Parliament Votes on Broadcasting Law
The Georgian Parliament has voted on changes to the Law on Broadcasting. The result is 83 in favor and 1 against.
New Rules for Broadcasters
The new rules will restrict what television and radio stations can do. They will be expected to:
* Be fair and impartial when reporting news
* Show both sides of an issue
* Warn people before recording them for a broadcast (unless it’s impossible)
* Choose phone calls fairly during live broadcasts
* Get permission from schools, hospitals, and police stations before filming there
* Not invite just one guest to talk about an issue, if they might be attacked
The same rules will also apply to what broadcasters post on social media.
Fines for Non-Compliance
If the Communications Regulatory Commission finds a broadcaster has broken these rules, it will first warn them. If they don’t change, they’ll be fined.
The authors of this bill are from the Georgian Dream and People’s Power parties.
