Internet Can’t Be Silenced

12.12.2007. Tags: freedom of expression, mass media, law, journalists.
Source: Charter`97.

The House of Representatives has adopted a draft law On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information in the first reading.

Introducing the draft Mikalai Pantsialei, minister of communication and information, stressed that this document did not concern the work of media, including electronic media, and declared that ‘no rules of conduct on the internet are introduced’.

The minister also added that the law On Information, Informatization and Protection of Information was to regulate the sphere of information and issues of information protection.

Mikhail Pastukhou, head of the Center of Legal Protection of Journalists of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, thinks the section of the document on protection of information is the most dangerous part. ‘I believe that the main purpose of the law is to organize a wide system of information ‘protection’ measures, in other words to restrict its free spreading. According to the draft only nice-to-know information can have free access. More and more new bans are introduced for distributing and using of information, and it causes deep concern,’ the BAJ lawyer noted.

‘Our principal position remains the same – this law restricts the constitutional right of people to receive, store and impart information,’ M.Pastukhou said.

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