The ACC has forced the broadcasters to adjust their broadcasting program in line with the “anti-propaganda” law

The Audiovisual Coordinating Council (ACC), through its decision of January 15, forced the broadcasters and service providers from Moldova to adapt their services of audiovisual programs to the “anti-propaganda” law.

According to the ACC decision, the broadcasters will make sure people are protected from eventual attempts of disinformation or manipulation from outside and will exclude media provocations against the Republic of Moldova by rejecting television and radio programs with informative, informative-analytic, military and political content that are not produced in the EU, USA, Canada and in the states that have not ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television.

In case these provisions are violated, the fines vary from 40,000 to 70,000 MDL and between 70,000 and 100,000 MDL for repeated violations. The broadcasting license will be annulled only after the gradual enforcement of sanctions.

In addition, the ACC approved a new model of the General Concept of Program Service. The broadcasters will present for approval the General Concept of Program Service, according to the model, by February 9, 2018. The service providers will present notifications on the changes they will make in the Offer of rebroadcast program services.

The ACC will also monitor, throughout 2018, the broadcasters and program distributors to check how the new provisions are complied with.

The Law on amending the Code of the Audiovisual in the Republic of Moldova with provisions regarding the security of the information space was published in the Monitorul Oficial on January 12, 2018 and will come into force within 30 days - on February 12.