Skopje, 21 December 2023 (MIA) – The unregulated internet media space creates inappropriate models for young people and the whole society, but it also creates threats, said participants in Thursday's discussion on "Dealing with hate speech in the media and online space", held as part of the fourth public session of the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (AVMU). 

The participants noted that hate speech, slander and insults present in some of the internet media outlets should be opposed by regulating the work, clearly defining the competences of the institutions, and by everyone doing their part of the job, including also the media by applying professional standards and principles.

The meeting screened videos containing hate-speech content, pointing out that the digital sphere is full of controversial views spreading hate speech, which are a threat to society. Participants urged for caution when inviting people in a debate, as well as in terms of video contents published. According to the participants, this was particularly important following the tragic murders of 14-year-old Vanja Gjorchevska and 74-year-old Panche Zhezhovski, as well as the presence in the internet space of the prime suspect in the double murder.

"A key challenge is how ethical and professional principles that apply to traditional media could be also applied to the internet media and, in general, entities in the internet space," said AVMU president Zoran Trajchevski. 

He pointed out that under the latest alignment of the Law on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services with the revised Directive, new entities such as video sharing platforms and influencers are also subject to regulation. In the coming period, Trajchevski added, the Agency will have to pass all by-laws, which will clarify, adjust and elaborate the current legal provisions to enable their application. The process has been launched with the support of the Twinning project, as part of which work is being done on the preparation of by-laws that are necessary to be able to immediately and correctly implement the provisions of the law, the AVMU president noted. 

AVMU is working with a German expert on the preparation of the by-laws. They are expected to be ready by April-March next year, with inclusiveness in the process, i.e. insight and improvement of the text by all stakeholders, including traditional media. 

The promotion of media regulation is part of the established regulatory goals within AVMU's 2024-2028 Strategic Plan. Key goals include strengthening the freedom of expression and media pluralism, increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of the media market, further developing media literacy and encouraging social inclusion, strengthening self-regulation and co-regulation, strengthening the protection of audiences that include people under the age of 18 and transparency of media ownership.  

Photo: MIA archive / AVMU