Ukrainian parliament passes first reading of contorversial Media Law amendments in

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has approved the first reading of Bill No. 12111, which introduces amendments to the law “On Media”. Supported by 248 MPs, the policy aims to overhaul the media regulations and bring in oversight mechanisms during wartime.

Co-author and Deputy Chair of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Yevheniia Kravchuk, claimed the policy comes as a natural development of Ukraine’s media reform efforts, now focusing on practical collaboration among industry stakeholders.

Kravchuk names the bill’s primary provisions:

1. Independence for the National Council:
   • The National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting will gain independence from government influence in its regulatory work.
   • Appointment procedures for its members by Parliament will be streamlined.
2. Expanded Media Autonomy:
   • Media outlets will receive greater self-regulatory powers when amending their registry information.
3. Streamlined Licensing and Registration:
   • The bill fixes up inconsistencies in the licensing and registration process for media outlets.
4. Enhanced Content Regulation:
   • The National Council will gain new authority to block Russian media services and evaluate online media content applying for registration during wartime.
5. Public Broadcasting Involvement:
   • The Public Broadcasting Company may participate in establishing a joint regulatory body for the media sector.

The amendments aim to align Ukraine’s media landscape with European standards while strengthening national security through tighter controls on potentially harmful content during wartime.