Broadcom voices concern over media bill drafted without talks
Safa noted that such legislation should be studied at the national level and supported by research before being introduced.
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The Broadcasting Commission of Maldives (Broadcom) has expressed concern over the introduction of the media regulation bill in Parliament without consultation with existing commissions or stakeholders.
Broadcom Chairperson Safa Shafeeq raised the issue during a meeting with the Parliamentary Independent Institutions Committee on Sunday, which is reviewing the bill. She said the commission had not been consulted during the drafting process.
Safa noted that such legislation should be studied at the national level and supported by research before being introduced. Her concerns included:
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The fines proposed for journalists and media outlets have been set without research, and figures should be determined based on the salaries of journalists and the income of media organisations.
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A review of international media regulation systems should be conducted to assess what is appropriate for the Maldives, including consideration of a self-regulatory system.
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The bill combines regulation of media and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, which she said should be studied further.
“We wish that a bill of this size would take time to discuss and study further,” Safa said, adding that Broadcom had already sent three letters to Parliament regarding the bill.
She also highlighted that many of the measures included in the bill already exist in the Broadcom Act but are not being implemented due to limited budget and resources.
“Even if a new commission is formed, the law cannot be implemented without budget and resources,” she said.
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