Amendments to the Law on Audiovisual Media

The government has approved a draft law on amendments and additions to the "Law on Audiovisual Media" during its meeting on December 25. The Television and Radio Commission has clarified the purpose of these amendments in a statement.

According to the current legislation, the Television and Radio Commission lacks the necessary tools to combat the dissemination of hate speech, “language of enmity,” discrimination, and manipulations that affect citizen behavior. Additionally, audiovisual information flows that negatively impact the physical and mental health of Armenian citizens are nearly excluded from regulation.

This amendment creates a clear legal framework for recognizing and assessing violations for the Commission, while providing broadcasters, network operators, and audiovisual content distributors with legal certainty regarding the boundaries of permissible and prohibited content.

One of the key objectives is to minimize threats to Armenia's information security. The necessity for these proposed amendments also stems from the fact that the audiovisual media sector is "not protected" from foreign information influence.

Foreign audiovisual programs broadcast via public multiplex and retransmitted through cable networks often impose information agendas that do not align with our public and state interests, for which the Commission currently lacks regulatory tools as per the existing laws.

The need to "protect" the audiovisual media sector from foreign audiovisual programs is intrinsically linked to national security, ensuring social cohesion, and protecting against potential interference in electoral processes. This regulation aims to ensure the protection of the state’s information space and the preservation of public interests and values, while also establishing a predictable and lawful process for retransmitted media products.

The proposed amendment will also introduce a legal mechanism by which if a network operator acts as a distributor and obtains written consent for retransmission from a foreign broadcaster directly, without the involvement of a mediator distributor, the legal regulations applicable to distributors will then apply to this network operator. This regulation aims to eliminate possible circumventions of regulation and ensure that, regardless of whether written consent for retransmission has been obtained by the distributor or the network operator, the retransmission of the relevant media product is subject to identical legal oversight and proper legal procedures.

As a result, equal competitive conditions will be established for all participants in the audiovisual media sector, and equal rules will be set to promote fair competition while eliminating monopolistic abuses and the risks of being in an unfavorable position.

Furthermore, the new legislative regulations will limit information that negatively affects citizens, enabling the prevention of misinformation, violence, hate propaganda, and the spread of other harmful content, thereby protecting the mental, moral, and informational safety of the public.

Legal mechanisms for information protection will be established to mitigate external influences on Armenia’s information space, maintaining oversight and controllability consistent with national security. Additionally, the mechanisms for oversight and regulation in the audiovisual media sector will be improved to enhance the applicability and practical effectiveness of the law.

After the enactment of these amendments and additions, the Television and Radio Commission will conduct compliance checks of all audiovisual programs already retransmitted in Armenia with legislative requirements.

Following the government's approval, the draft law on amendments and additions to the "Law on Audiovisual Media" will be submitted for discussion in the National Assembly.