Speech by Roch-Olivier Maistre at Arcom's 2025 Greetings

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Ladies and Gentlemen Ministers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ladies and Gentlemen Chairmen,

Dear friends,

This moment had to come! And now it has. In a few days' time, as the magistrates of the National audit office say in the autumn of their career, I'll have to "put down the robe". A dress I was careful not to wear tonight!

At this point, I can't help but think back to "Forrest Gump" when, at the beginning of the film, he reminds us of this almost "existential" precept: "Mom always said, life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're going to run into". And I tell myself that, in the final analysis, I've been rather lucky.

First of all, I was lucky to have served some of the Republic's finest institutions for almost 45 years. Our capital, the City of Light; the golds of the rue de Valois, where the shadow of André Malraux still looms large; the Comédie-Française, the first of our national theaters; the Presidency of the Republic, the holy of holies of our institutions; the National audit office, a magistracy of influence if ever there was one; and above all, the independent authority - how shall I put it? - perhaps the most "peaceful"? - of our administrative landscape: the French Superior Audiovisual Council yesterday, the Arcom today.

Then there's the good fortune of having crossed paths with some extraordinary personalities on my long peregrinations between numbers and letters. I've always believed that the spice of life lies in encounters. And I have not been disappointed. How can I not think back to all those figures who have marked and often enlightened my path? Exemplary and devoted public servants, who passed on to me the values and ethics of public service. Exceptional artists, as flamboyant in life as in their art. Figures from our national political life: François Léotard, father of the great law of 1986 which bears his name and which I never imagined, as a young adviser in his cabinet, I would one day have to implement; and of course President Jacques Chirac, whom it's hard not to think of this evening in this wonderful Museum which bears his name. And all of you, women and men of communication, women and men of culture, often long-time companions and friends, who have made these years of browsing on the sea of media a happy time, certainly "stimulating" and certainly exciting.

I cannot thank enough all those who have made this happiness possible.

First and foremost, the President of the Republic, who has done me the honor of entrusting me with this wonderful responsibility. I am grateful to him for his confidence, and for having guaranteed the independence of the Authority over the past 6 years.

The Members of Parliament of both Houses and the successive Ministers, who, through numerous pieces of legislation, have supported and accompanied the transformation of the Authority, giving it the means to carry out its many missions.

Then there are the members of the College: Nicolas, Nathalie, Jean-François, Carole, Hervé, Benoît, Juliette, Anne, Denis, Laurence, Bénédicte, Antoine and Michèle, whose sudden departure on a May night was so distressing for us all. Each of you, with your temperament and experience, has enabled our collegiality to live - the word is not too strong - and deliberate in the service of the general interest.

Finally, the Authority's teams: Alban and Guillaume, two exceptional general managers; Frédéric and Pauline, their talented deputies; Marie and Sara, communication fairies, not forgetting my two successive cabinet directors, Yannick and Justine, the finest of the new generation of public servants. Through you, dear friends, I would like to pay tribute to Arcom's directors and staff, whose competence, know-how and commitment are a credit to public service.

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1. Over the past 6 years, France's media landscape and the French people's relationship with the media have changed a great deal, and regulation could not be left behind.

New institution, new governance, new skills, new location, the Autorité has transformed itself over the years to better support our players and better serve the French. "Neither quite the same, nor quite different," Arcom has established itself not simply as a watchdog, but as a modern regulatory authority, recognized and respected throughout Europe.

1.1 First and foremost, it has consolidated and asserted its independence and legitimacy.

In reading Michèle Cotta's recently published memoirs, I have come to appreciate just how far we have come in the last 40 years. In any case, I can testify to the fact that, over the past 6 years, our College has ruled on every case with complete impartiality and independence from both political authorities and economic interests. For us, this has been a constant requirement. Our only compass has been fidelity to the principles laid down by law. On the one hand, freedom of communication, editorial freedom and freedom of expression - such precious assets without which there can be no democracy. On the other, the responsibility of publishers to protect the public. Under the constant scrutiny of the courts, our hand has never wavered, whether it's protecting a fundamental public freedom on a daily basis, or reminding a defaulting publisher of its obligations. Far from the pressures and polemics, the Autorité has fulfilled its missions, attentive to society's expectations, but assuming that the time for its decisions is never the time for social networks.

1.2 Secondly, we have invested in the new fields of competence entrusted to us.

With 6 European regulations and directives, often at France's initiative, and a dozen national laws, the institution's remit has expanded massively. In keeping with the times, it has embraced the digital revolution in all its dimensions. The adoption of the European regulation on digital services, which owes much to France's determined action, and the designation of Arcom as the coordinating authority were decisive steps in this direction. With this new horizon, the regulator is in line with the fine ambition of building, alongside the Commission and all our European counterparts, a safer and more responsible Internet.

1.3. Finally, we have supported the media in their transformation.

The rollout of digital terrestrial radio, the inclusion of streaming platforms in the scope of regulation, the strengthening of our anti-piracy tools, renewed initiatives in favor of parity and diversity on air, an ever greater commitment to program accessibility and the protection of persons under 18, renewed monitoring of respect for plurality - these have all been years of metamorphosis.

Admittedly, not everything was easy. But the unity of the college, the expertise of its departments and the unfailing support of the authorities have enabled this regulator to undergo a transformation to better support the operators in our audiovisual landscape, and above all in the public interest.

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2. But beyond this balance sheet, I am mindful of the experience that public service is an eternal school of humility, and that history is never finished. As we pass on the torch, many challenges remain for the media, the regulator and the authorities.

2.1. The first challenge, perhaps the most important in my view, is that of freedom.

"Without freedom, there is nothing in the world" wrote Châteaubriand. During my term of office, I have been struck by the rise in intolerance, the polarization of public debate, the accentuation of divisions, the difficulty of listening to one another and engaging in dialogue. In my dealings with the Authority, I have sometimes seen cookie-cutter positions expressed. And I have sensed the temptation on the part of some to make Arcom play a role that is not and should not be its own, that of a thought police or a court of opinion, by cutting back on our liberal-inspired model. I think we have to be careful. With the 1881 law on freedom of the press and the 1986 law on freedom of communication, regulation of the written and audiovisual media in our country is based on a subtle and precious balance between freedom and responsibility. Let's work together to preserve this priceless heritage.

2.2. The second challenge, no less essential, is that of plurality.

In the age of global media, this issue is central to our democracy. As we all know, the omnipotence of the major digital players is threatening our content media - print media, radio and television - whether public or private. The plurality of publishers, to avoid concentration in a few hands, and the competition of ideas, to guarantee the vitality of public debate.

In this respect, the main point of vigilance is the robustness of our media's economic model. Preserving the appeal and competitiveness of our national players is - I repeat - a democratic challenge, and I would like to salute the innovative capacity of our publishers here today to adapt to the transformation of their environment.

The European Union made no mistake in adopting its regulation on media freedom last May, and the Etats Généraux de l'Information (General Assembly on Information) put forward strong proposals in this area. Today, there is a kind of urgency to act.

2.3. The third and final challenge is that of trust.

How can we allow our fellow citizens' distrust of the media to persist and flourish, their information fatigue to flourish, or even their information exodus? The issue of trust has become a real challenge for us all. Better represent France in all its diversity, in all its reality, in all its complexity. More than ever, we need to ensure the honesty, rigor and plurality of our information. To resolutely fight against "chaos engineers", online hate, disinformation, conspiracy theorizing and interference. Give media literacy and digital citizenship their rightful place. The task remains immense.

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Dear friends,

In a week's time, and even though we have been and will continue to be occupied with the institution's dossiers right up to the last minute, I will be leaving my post with some emotion, as these years shared with all of you have been so fascinating.

With Martin Ajdari, to whom I will be handing over the baton, I know that the company will be in good hands, and that he will be committed not only to strengthening the institution, but above all to giving it new impetus.

For the moment, Pierre Dac is pulling me by the sleeve, reminding me that "the shortest speeches are the shortest". It therefore remains for me to take my leave, thanking you and wishing each and every one of you a happy new year in 2025.

For my part, I'm going to follow the excellent advice of Voltaire's Candide to the letter, and hasten to "cultivate my garden". And I'll finally be able to say without any restraint: "What's Arcom up to? Thank you very much.