MINSK, 6 March (BelTA) – The updated Mass Media Law has a positive influence on the mass media sphere, BelTA learned from Belarusian Deputy Information Minister Igor Buzovsky.
Amendments to the Mass Media Law came into force on 1 December 2018. The amendments had been hotly debated by the reporter community and by Internet users. Asked what the Information Ministry thinks about the effect of the amended law, Igor Buzovsky said: “We are not seeing the negative trends some people had predicted before the amendments were passed. All the processes regarding the registration of Internet mass media, new forum procedures proceed absolutely smoothly. No shocks have been registered or restrictions on rights of those, who leave comments on forums. And the people, who used to spread negative attitudes beyond the reach of law, now know that controls are in place and they will have to bear responsibility for what they say.” The deputy information minister stated that despite predictions of individual “specialists” information flows have not been misbalanced.
Igor Buzovsky is convinced that thanks to the amended law they had been able to take the next step in organizing and regulating the operation of mass media in line with today's reality. “The society moves on. Mass media develop in leaps and bounds. The law will continue to be improved,” the official said.
BelTA reported earlier that amendments and addenda to the Mass Media Law came into force on 1 December 2018. The main novelties include the emergence of new terms such as online media outlet, owner of an Internet resource, Internet resource. Internet resources can now go through the state registration procedure in order to become an online media outlet. The amended law also stipulates rights and obligations of owners of Internet resources. In particular, they now have to identify users, who post information or leave comments on websites, using true personal data and mobile phone numbers or email addresses.
