Protection of information space is actually protection of Moldova's national interests - expert

Chisinau, 19 December /MOLDPRES/ - The protection of the information space or the national security in information sense is nothing else but protection of our fundamental national interests. Expert, political analyst Anatol Taranu has made statements to this effect at a round table organized by the MOLDPRES Agency, in the context of the adoption by the Moldovan parliament of the anti-propaganda law.      

“There are contradictions between the fundamental interests, in separate fields, of Russia and Moldova. A lot of interests are divergent, even simply antagonistic. In this respect, we can give the example of the Transnistrian conflict settlement or the Russian military presence in Moldova. In these conditions, the preservation of the information space of a country which propagates contrary, antagonistic ideas to you own fundamental interests is a foolish thing,” the expert said. 

At the same time, Anatol Taranu noted that this law did not contradict the citizens’ right to information. “The citizen’s right to information has always been limited, even if they speak about the freedom of press, the one of expression. On the other hand, we are not propagating fascism or pornography. Who ever heard of such a thing - a state propagating the interests of another state on its territory?” Taranu wonders.    

At the same time, Anatol Taranu confirmed that there is the so-called “fifth column” (notion of clandestine groups or subversive factions, which try to undermine the solidarity of a nation through any means available) on the territory of Moldova. “The fifth column cannot but exist; it has been existing since the presence of Russia in Moldova. We came from the Soviet Union and it is only natural that there are a lot of people who, because of the political, social failures in Moldova, regard the past with nostalgia, and when they are looking into the past, things make no headway,” the expert said.   

The parliament on 7 December adopted a draft law on the amendment of the Audiovisual Code in the final reading with the votes of 61 lawmakers. The draft proposes a mechanism of ensuring the state’s information security and is aimed at fighting the propaganda and manipulation from outside Moldova, which may bring serious damages to the state’s information security. Following the legislative amendments, the notion of “information security” will be introduced in the  Audiovisual Code, which will imply a string of measures aimed at protecting Moldova’s citizens from misinformation and manipulation coming from outside the country. The violation of the new provisions by broadcasters will be sanctioned with fine worth up to 70,000 lei.    

More information and comments on this subject can be watched in a video recording of the discussions, placed on the webpage of the MOLDPRES State News Agency (www.moldpres.md). 

(Reporter L. Grubii, editor M. Jantovan)