Podcast hosts condemn Media Commission oversight

Podcast host Ólöf Skaftadóttir has called Iceland’s Media Commission “the most unnecessary state institution of them all”, mbl.is reports. She and Þórarinn Hjartarson discussed the position of independent podcasts and media with Andrés Magnússon on Morgunblaðið’s Dagmál programme.

Ólöf, one of the hosts of the Komið gott podcast, said she believed independent podcasts could compete with podcasts produced by Iceland’s national broadcaster on equal terms. However, she said small independent media outlets also had to deal with supervision by the Media Commission.

“I do not have a lawyer, I do not have an accountant or staff who can stand up to some Media Commission,” Ólöf said. She said she and her co-host were just two people presenting their case on a foreign podcast platform.

“Why am I not simply left alone? What am I disturbing these people with?” she asked.

Ólöf said the commission considered its oversight to cover the entire internet. She said she had asked whether it would make a difference if the podcast were registered in Bulgaria or published as “relationship-building on OnlyFans”. She said the answer was that they would still have to register as a media outlet, under threat of daily fines.

Þórarinn, the host of the Ein pæling podcast, said the Media Commission had personally fined him after he decided to “turn defence into attack” and publicly criticise its practices.

“I put all my money into creating a new studio, but I have to take out an overdraft to pay this fine because it is directed at me personally,” Þórarinn said.

Andrés said the legislation was controversial and was due to be changed. Despite this, he said Þórarinn was now being “directly punished” for criticising the authorities and the work of the Media Commission.