Draft Law on Amending and Supplementing the Media Act

Document type
Proposed Law
Country
(1) The Ministry of Culture released a new Draft Law on Amending and Supplementing the Media Act, which states that in order to regulate hate speech – especially on online media platforms – the "editor-in-chief" should be held liable for user-generated content (comments and other audiovisual material). Furthermore, the "editor-in-chief" must implement and publish rules for the selection and inclusion of comments. All comments that are not in line with such rules must be deleted in the shortest time possible. Failing to meet listed obligations constitutes a misdemeanor for which the "editor-in-chief" could be fined between 500 and 5000 euros.
(2) The Information Commissioner has already expressed concerns regarding the purposed amendments by stating that such obligations could seriously impede constitutionally protected freedom of speech. The Commissioner has also emphasized that such responsibility leads to general monitoring obligation which is explicitly prohibited by Slovenian (Article 8 of ZEPT) and European law (Article 15 of eCommerce directive).
Country
Year
2015
Topic, claim, or defense
Hate Speech
Document type
Proposed Law
Issuing entity
Legislative Branch
Type of service provider
Host (Including Social Networks)
Issues addressed
Trigger for OSP obligations
OSP obligation considered
Block or Remove
Monitor or Filter
Type of law
Civil
General effect on immunity
Weakens Immunity
General intermediary liability model
Takedown/Act Upon Knowledge (Includes Notice and Takedown)