The OSCE fully published a commentary to Alexander Lukashenko's decree of № 60 on the regulation of the Internet. The commentary was prepared by Andrei Richter, director of the Moscow Media Law and Policy Institute to the order of the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the media. According to the document, the decree of Belarusian leader is "half-hearted".
«The Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus «On Measures to Improve the Use of the National Segment of the Internet» is aimed at protecting the interests of citizens, society, and the state in the information sphere and ensuring further development of the national segment of the Internet», reads the commentary of Andrei Richter.
«The Decree contains several requirements that call for making information about state bodies and other government organizations more accessible on the Internet», Andrei Richter writes. «The Decree addresses issues that relate to obtaining and disseminating information on the Internet, which cannot help but have an effect on the activity of journalists in Belarus and on the freedom of the media», emphasized in the commentary, BAJ informs.
«The Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus contains several provisions aimed at enhancing freedom of information on the Internet. In particular, it envisages again the obligation of state bodies and government organization to post information about their activities on Internet sites. The providers of Internet services are not held responsible for the contents of the information placed on the Internet», reads the commentary of Andrei Richter.
«However the merits of the Decree are ambiguous and are outweighed by shortcomings that restrict freedom of expression and freedom of the media on the Internet», which full text you can read here.
