Armenia to ban  foreign media content promoting overthrow of  constitutional order - draft law

ArmInfo. In Armenia, the dissemination of content in foreign television and radio programs aimed at promoting violence and cruelty or the violent overthrow of  the constitutional order, as well as content that interferes in the  internal political life of the Republic of Armenia, will be  prohibited.  

At its February 3 meeting, the RA National Assembly  Committee on Education, Science, Culture, Diaspora, Youth, and Sports  approved the amendments to the Law on Audiovisual Media submitted by  the RA government in the first reading.

Specifically, as stated by Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar  Hayrapetyan, the draft clarifies the legal grounds, criteria, and  mechanisms for the suspension and revocation of licenses for network  operators. The requirements for the activities of audiovisual program  distributors have also been revised and edited.  Amendments and  additions have been made to the section on fines, particularly in  cases of carrying out illegal activities. A new article has been  added regulating the procedure for suspending and revoking a network  operator's license. The proposed amendments and additions will  improve control and regulation mechanisms in the audiovisual media  sector, increasing the applicability and practical effectiveness of  the law.

The Minister noted that the adoption of the draft will prevent  ambiguous interpretations and ensure a predictable legal environment  for entities operating in this sector. Equal competitive conditions  will be established, ensuring fair competition, excluding abuses of  monopoly position, and reducing the risks of creating  unequal  conditions in the market. "At the same time, the amendments are aimed  at limiting information that negatively affects citizens, thereby  preventing the spread of disinformation, violence, hate speech, and  other harmful content," the Minister noted.

It is envisaged that legal mechanisms for information protection will  be created to prevent external influence on Armenia's information  space, ensuring control and oversight consistent with national  security.