8th REFRAM Presidents' Conference

The French-speaking Network of Media Regulators (REFRAM), which brings together 31 authorities, met in Dakar on January 27 and 28, as part of its 8th Presidents' Conference. The event, dedicated to continuing the dialogue between regulators and major digital platforms, also provided an opportunity to discuss the fight agains piracy and support for creation.

Roch-Olivier Maistre, President of Arcom and REFRAM between 2022 and 2024, presented the network's activity report for the past two years. In particular, he emphasized REFRAM's focus on the challenges posed by major digital platforms in the French-speaking world, and laid the groundwork for follow-up in the coming months to the Abidjan Declaration and Protocol of Voluntary Commitment (April 2024) and the Villers-Cotterêts Declaration of Heads of State and Government (November 2024).

Roch-Olivier Maistre also welcomed REFRAM's active participation in UNESCO's activities, and again welcomed the agreement reached with the European Audiovisual Media Services Regulators Group (ERGA) in October 2022. Arcom is delighted with the achievements of all its members.

The conference was also an opportunity for Roch-Olivier Maistre to hand over the REFRAM presidency to Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye, President of Senegal's Conseil national de régulation de l'audiovisuel (CNRA).

Arcom reiterates its wish to see REFRAM carry out its missions and thus, in accordance with the Villers-Cotterêts appeal, contribute to the advent of a francophone digital space of integrity and trust. The regulator has full confidence in the network's ability to preserve an independent regulation scheme, guaranteeing freedom of expression and ensuring full protection of democracy.