Media service providers may face incremental sanctions for broadcasting content qualified as misinformation – first a fine ranging from 40,000 to 70,000 lei, then a fine from 70,000 lei to 100,000 lei, and eventually suspension of the license for up to 7 days, under the Law on Combating Disinformation, which was passed in second and final reading.

The Law introduces in the Code of Audiovisual Media Services the definition of “misinformation”. Also, the Law prohibits the broadcasting of audiovisual programs that constitute hate speech. Programs that contain misinformation, propaganda of military aggression, extremist content, terrorist content, or false information that pose a threat to national security are also prohibited.

To protect the national infospace, media service providers shall not broadcast, and media service distributors shall not rebroadcast television and radio audiovisual programs with informative, analytical, military and political content that have been produced in countries other than the Member States of the European Union, the United States of America, Canada and the States which have ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, except for films and entertainment programs free of militaristic content.

Also, media service providers shall not broadcast, and media service distributors shall not rebroadcast audiovisual programs that, regardless of their origin, justify wars of aggression, deny war crimes and crimes against humanity or incite hatred.