Transparency International-Georgia (TI Georgia) is speaking out against two new amendments proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. These changes aim to control what can be said on TV and radio.
The proposals were made public on February 24. One would stop foreign money from being used by broadcasters, while the other would give a government agency more power over what gets broadcast. If passed, this means that TV and radio stations could face fines for things they say or show.
TI Georgia is worried that these changes will silence critical voices in the media. In a statement on February 25, they said the main goal of the amendments is to make it hard for independent broadcasters to get money from abroad. This is because local advertising is not enough to keep them going.
The organization also fears that the Communications Commission, which regulates broadcasting, will have too much power over what gets broadcast. They are concerned that this could lead to censorship or self-censorship.
TI Georgia believes that these changes will make it harder for people to get information and that they will benefit only government-controlled channels. They think that by making it hard for independent broadcasters to survive, the government will be able to control what people see and hear on TV and radio.
