Riedel Networks, a leading German supplier of media production technology, has announced its membership in Security4Media. This association, established by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and several public media organizations in September 2024, is dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity within the media technology sector.
Riedel joins other prominent members including Rai (Italy), RTÉ (Ireland), ARD (Germany), ORF (Austria), SR (Sweden), SWISS TXT, RTS (Serbia), and NRK (Norway). “The foundation of such an association is a step in the right direction for the broadcast sector, because it sends out a signal that IT security also plays an enormously important role in the media sector and must be given greater focus,” stated Michael Martens, CEO of Riedel Networks.
Security4Media’s core mission involves identifying vulnerabilities in media systems, streamlining vulnerability management with vendors, and accelerating remediation efforts. The organization also conducts security audits and awards labels to entities adhering to cybersecurity best practices. Recognizing the intertwined challenges of cybersecurity and disinformation, Security4Media is actively addressing content provenance tracing.
Content provenance tracing aims to encode and reveal the origin and any modifications to content. “Applied at scale, this could help to create islands of trust and transparency in a sea of fake news and disinformation – a topic given additional relevance with global social media networks intending to scale down content moderation and fact checking,” according to the EBU. Initiatives like the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) combine technical solutions and services under the governance of a neutral entity.
Security4Media prioritizes open standards for content authenticity, facilitating solutions that preserve content integrity from creation to distribution. The association also emphasizes media literacy, user empowerment, and protecting content owners’ legal rights.