In the context of the security crisis in the region and of the pandemic crisis, programs that can propagate, incite and justify forms of hatred based on intolerance were signaled in Moldova’s media space, said the Audiovisual Council.
The institution was notified publicly of this and is to formalize the subsequent approaches. The Audiovisual Council’s head Liliana Vițu-Eșanu noted that these programs fall under Articles 11 and 13 of the Audiovisual Code, which protect the basic human rights and freedoms and ensure the correct informing of the citizens. To meet the legal provisions, the media service providers should make a clear distinction between information and opinion and should ensure impartiality.
The difference between fact and opinion is regulated by the law on the freedom of expression. Given the security crisis in the region, the call to the media service providers is to bank on true facts, to refrain from inflammatory language and to show maximum responsibility when they work out audiovisual programs. Audiovisual service distributors should show the same responsibility when they retransmit a product. Their task is to make sure that this product obeys the Moldovan legislation, said Liliana Vițu-Eșanu.
