After long debates and arguments, the Parliament adopted amendments, on the basis of which programs and advertisements containing hate speech and incitement to terrorism fall under the sphere of regulation of the Communications Regulatory Commission.
The planned amendments to the Law on Broadcasting were adopted in the third reading by 79 votes. 3 MPs voted against.
According to the draft amendments prepared by the Georgian Dream deputies, it will be possible to appeal the decision made by the broadcaster's self-regulatory body to the Communications Regulatory Commission.
In addition, in the process of the first reading, the original version of the draft amendments was corrected, and obscenity also moved from the field of self-regulation to regulation.
Broadcasters who violate the ban on hate speech and incitement to terrorism will first receive a warning. In case of committing a similar violation repeatedly within a year - a fine of 0.5% of the last year's income, not less than GEL 2,500, will be imposed. In the case of another similar violation, the amount of the fine increases.
Article 55/2 of the Law on Broadcasting provides for the prohibition of spreading hate speech and calls to terrorism in the programs or advertisements of media service providers. According to the law that is still in force, it is possible to respond to the violation of the mentioned prohibition only within the framework of the self-regulation mechanism of the media service provider.
The draft law is authored and initiated by the majority deputies of Georgian Dream: - Davit Songhulashvili, Eka Sepashvili, Bezhan Tsakadze, Isko Dasen, Irakli Kirtskhalia, Anton Obolashvili and Irma Zavradashvili.
According to the explanation of the majority members, "The adoption of the draft law will contribute to the fulfillment of the 12 priorities defined by the European Commission."
