**Restrictive Media Law Amendments Approved**
The Georgian parliament has approved amendments to the country’s broadcasting law. The changes will also cover online media.
According to Archil Gorduladze, chairman of the parliament’s Legal Issues Committee, the amendments are needed because technology is constantly changing and information is being spread through different means.
The new law will define “internet services” as the provision of mass information in Georgia‘s official language. This can include social media platforms and online hosting. The provider of internet services will be considered a broadcaster or someone who owns an internet domain or hosting service to distribute information in Georgia’s official language.
**Concerns Over Media Freedom**
Local civil society organizations have warned that these amendments will stifle dissent and dismantle critical media in the country. They claim that the changes are modeled on British legislation, but with a different intention.
These amendments aim to ban foreign funding for the media and increase state control over broadcast content. This has raised concerns about the potential impact on Georgia’s media freedom.
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