Govt backs down over fake news bill

The controversial bill on fake news will not head to parliamentary vote come September and will instead be subject to further discussion so as to assuage concerns, the justice ministry announced on Thursday.

The developments come after a meeting with all stakeholders at the ministry, chaired by Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis.

It was agreed a team of experts will begin discussing the bill taking into account the widespread criticism rained down on the proposed legislation. 

Representatives from the legal service, bar association, publishers association, journalism ethics committee, mass media institute and journalism union attended the meeting.

“Particular emphasis was given to the right to free speech, as was raised by concerns from the professional bodies,” the ministry said.

Nonetheless the protection of innocent citizens from ill-intentioned posts online must also be taken into account, the ministry specified.

The house legal committee which has been discussing the bill for three years will be asked to postpone putting the bill to vote, so as to continue efforts to try and reach a solution.

The bill has been condemned both locally and internationally by press freedom groups which have accused it as a guise to gag journalists.

It provides for jail time for the dissemination of fake news, which has been described as a “chilling effect” on media freedom that will inevitably push journalists to self-censor.

Under the proposed law, the attorney-general will have the power to determine what constitutes defamation, which will be reclassified from a civil offence to a criminal one.

The International Press Institute warned the bill “exacerbates the potential for arbitrary enforcement, with the risk of those in power ending up repressing legitimate dissent and criticism”.

Deputy AG Savvas Angelides has ardently defended the bill, saying it is necessary to “draw the line between freedom of speech and recklessness”.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been alerted over the matter by Akel MP Irene Charalambides, and is expected to issue a legal opinion.

Cyprus’ journalism groups are pushing to have the bill scrapped in its entirety.