DOC New provisions of Media Services Code entered into force

Chisinau, August 11 /MOLDPRES/- The new provisions of the Media Services Code were published in the Official Journal and entered into force.

Thus, the notion of "disinformation" will have a new content, namely: "disinformation - intentional spread by any means in the public space of information whose false or misleading nature can be verified and which is likely to harm national security". For the repeated broadcasting of content qualified as disinformation, the providers may be sanctioned with the deprivation of the right to use the multiplex with national coverage.

As of today, media service providers have the obligation to equalize the sound volume between advertisements and audiovisual programs.

Changes were also made regarding the dominant situation in the formation of public opinion, namely the audience share of audiovisual media services was reduced from 35% to 25%, which will be used to assess the risk of a dominated situation. Thus, media service providers will be able to request the suspension of the broadcast license, whenever they consider it necessary, if the cumulative duration of the suspension will not exceed 6 months, with the exception of providers that use multiplex slots and/or radio frequencies, in which case the duration of suspension cannot exceed 3 months. If the provider does not start broadcasting once this term expires, the Audiovisual Council will revoke the provider's right to use the multiplex slot and/or the radio frequency.

Source: monitorul.gov.md