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The ambassador also said that Moldova should fight external and internal propaganda more effectively.
“Foreign propaganda is a concern in Moldova, and the United States certainly understands the risks posed by Russian disinformation. But Moldova also faces issues with domestic control of the media. Freedom House states that ownership concentration, especially in the television sector, is one of the greatest obstacles to media independence in Moldova – estimating that 80 percent of domestic television stations are owned by people affiliated with political parties. This situation not only threatens media independence in Moldova, but also results in messaging that can be characterized as a different type of propaganda, from internal sources. We must recognize, name, and combat this trend with the same vigor with which we approach foreign misinformation,” said James D. Pettit.
He also pointed out that the fight against propaganda cannot be used as a pretext in shutting down alternative voices, and that international experts, such as the Council of Europe and OSCE, have stated that wholesale bans are not effective in the fight against Russian propaganda.
Earlier, Vladimir Hotineanu, the chairman of the parliamentary commission on mass media, said that the draft of the new Broadcasting Code might be adopted in the first reading by the end of this year.
Speaker of the Parliament Andrian Candu said that the document will be sent to the Venice Commission for examination before the first reading.
The draft of the new Broadcasting Code was developed by a group of media experts within the working group created by the Parliament to improve media legislation.
