The legal status of the users of high impact of information sharing platforms: prospects for recognition as online media entities in Ukraine

This research article describes the changes that have taken shape in media consumption due to digitalisation. It emphasises the special role of content created by users of information sharing platforms. The article analyses the European Parliament Directives aimed at establishing common principles for the European Union for the regulation of user-generated content, in particular, in terms of protection of minors, prohibition of dissemination of harmful or dangerous information and restrictions on advertising of certain types of goods and services. The article also focuses on the existing risks of using content on information sharing platforms and possible manipulation of algorithms to influence socio-political and electoral processes by foreign states or owners of digital platforms. The author studied the experience of regulating users of information sharing platforms with a large influence in the Kingdom of Spain. The criteria for classifying such users as well as the specifics of their legal status are analysed. The article also highlights the special features of regulation of user-generated content in France. In particular, the author positively describes the obligation of content authors to use special labels in case the content was created using artificial intelligence tools or if the image or video was retouched. The article points out the crucial importance of regulating the activities of users of information sharing platforms with a large audience in Ukraine, taking into account their key role in the media consumption of Ukrainians, as well as safety risks in times of war. Based on the analysis of the existing national regulation, taking into account international experience, the author concludes that the best way to regulate the legal status of users of platforms for sharing information with a large audience is to extend the status of online media entities to them. It is emphasised that such changes would eliminate the problem that most sources of information used by millions of Ukrainians on a daily basis are not actually considered media and are not regulated by the relevant legislation. These changes would become the basis for further regulation, in particular, in terms of developing an effective procedure for restricting access to resources that violate the law and creating a system of deterrence that would prevent the use of such content in the future for unfair campaigning or political manipulation by hostile foreign states.