“Georgian Dream” is going to ban foreign funding for online media

“Georgian Dream” will develop a separate draft law that will limit foreign funding of Internet media.

Parliament is currently adopting amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which introduces a ban on foreign funding for TV and radio companies. The amendments ban any foreign funding, in monetary and material form, except for commercial advertising.

The ruling party said that banning foreign funding only for TV and radio broadcasters was not enough.

“It is possible that certain forces from abroad may finance so-called Internet media in our country, including for subversive purposes. Shouldn't there be such regulation that similar restrictions should be applied to what we call Internet media?”, - said Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee Archil Gorduladze at the plenary session.

He was supported by Rati Ionatamishvili, Head of the Committee for the Protection of Human Rights. According to him, Internet media is being used today as an instrument of influence even more than TV channels. Ionatamishvili expressed his readiness to personally participate in the drafting of the bill.

The leader of the parliamentary majority Mamuka Mdinaradze commented on the topic in a streamlined manner:

“There are several problems in this direction. On the one hand, no one should be given space to assume that someone is being restricted. On the other hand, the challenge is to ensure that the goal is achieved... There are many topics to discuss, there are many obstacles to address, and it requires a very comprehensive approach.”

Reprinted from https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/