The Chamber of Deputies adopted in a plenary session on Wednesday a bill introducing the possibility for radio and television stations to broadcast educational and public interest messages on identifying and recognising fake news, promoting critical thinking and verifying information from multiple sources.

The legislative proposal aims to amend Law No. 504/2002 by creating a legal framework for educational audiovisual communications about the dangers of disinformation and the importance of verifying information from reliable and multiple sources. At the same time, according to the initiative, the costs associated with broadcasting these messages will be covered from the Government’s reserve fund.

The draft law stipulates that radio and television stations may broadcast official information and statements from public authorities concerning the dangers of disinformation and the importance of checking information from safe and multiple sources.

‘Audiovisual communications of an educational nature regarding the dangers of disinformation and the importance of verifying information from reliable and multiple sources must meet the following criteria: to inform citizens about the dangers of disinformation and the importance of checking information from reliable and multiple sources; to encourage information from official sources of public authorities and institutions; to inform citizens about the social and institutional risks caused by the spread of fake news; to be in line with the strategies of the Romanian state and with the regulations and recommendations of the European Union in the area of combating disinformation,’ the bill stipulates.

The Chamber of Deputies is the first chamber to consider the proposal, while the Senate will make the final decision. AGERPRES