Defining Reality
In July I mentioned that he lower house of parliament in Belarus has approved a new bill that would change registration procedures for the traditional media and extend them to online media as well, forcing all web pages to be registered. On Tuesday the law was approved (via) by President Lukashenko.
The law stipulates that online content will now be subject to the same restrictions as the print press. The law also places greater power in the hands of the state authorities, who will be able to suspend or close indefinitely media outlets that publish material that does ‘not correspond to reality’, publish inaccurate or defamatory material or threaten the interests of the state or the public. It also gives state authorities the ability to interpret these terms as they deem fit.
Sunday 10 Aug 2008 | Paul | Belarus
