Dutch media regulator steps up oversight, pushes to strip ON! licence and expands influencer monitoring

Under Amma Asante, the Commissariaur voor de Media is taking a more visible, proactive role, advising the minister to withdraw ON!'s licence after a Hitler-praise episode and widening its remit to include influencers and streaming services.

The Dutch media regulator, led by former politician Amma Asante since 2022, is no longer a perpetually crisis-ridden body but is asserting a more public presence. It is involved in current dossiers ranging from youth online safety to political advertising transparency and the possible removal of far-right broadcaster ON! after a July episode of “Let’s Twist Again” praised Hitler, prompting Minister Rianne Letschert to initiate a licence-withdrawal process on 8 September.

Asante explains the regulator does not judge content but monitors journalistic quality guarantees, noting that repeated shortcomings culminated in the Hitler episode. After a prolonged series of warnings, reprimands and sanctions—two formal measures in 2025—the commission advised the minister to revoke ON!’s recognition, citing governance failures and misuse of public funds. The agency has also broadened its scope since June 2025 to supervise influencers (initially those with 500 000 followers, later all) and major streaming services, aiming to curb harmful content and ensure commercial-interest transparency. Asante argues that algorithmic feeds create echo chambers, so the regulator’s priority is to guarantee that users encounter multiple perspectives and that reliable public media remain easily discoverable online, a goal she hopes will be enshrined in the upcoming Media Law revision.