Bill on mass media in Belarus passes first reading
MINSK, 18 April (BelTA) – The bill on “Amending the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Mass Media” passed the first reading at the meeting of the ninth session of the House of Representatives of the seventh convocation on 18 April, BelTA has learned.
The draft law was submitted to the House of Representatives by the Council of Ministers. It is aimed at ensuring the constitutional right of citizens to receive complete and reliable information, protection of state and public interests, and national security in the area of mass information.
The document has been developed taking into account the law enforcement practice in order to bring the law “On Mass Media” in conformity with the norms of the updated Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and eliminate contradictions with other legislative acts that affect legal relations in the information sector.
The bill proposes, in particular, to define the specifics of the functioning of news aggregators and the legal status of their owners, expand the list of grounds for revoking a certificate of state registration of a mass media outlet and limit access to an Internet resource, network publication or news aggregator. It also lays out detailed requirements for the activities of owners of Internet resources distributing products of television and (or) radio broadcasting mass media.
The document specifies the procedure for the activities of foreign mass media on the territory of Belarus and establishes the possibility of retaliatory measures against foreign mass media, Internet resources and journalists of foreign mass media.
The bill has undergone all necessary procedures for its consideration by the House of Representatives. The comments and suggestions received are not of a conceptual nature and will be resolved when preparing the bill for the second reading.
