Bihus.Info journalists drew attention to draft law No. 14057, which was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on September 21. The publication believes that it contains dangerous changes that make journalistic investigations impossible.
Bihus.Info journalists drew attention to draft law No. 14057, which was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on September 21. The publication believes that it contains dangerous changes that make journalistic investigations impossible.
«These two bills are aimed at modernizing the two fundamental books of the Civil Code: general provisions and personal rights. We have updated them and brought them into line with the requirements of European legislation», said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk.
The Liga.Zakon publication indicates that draft law No. 14057 is aimed at «creating a comprehensive and effective system for protecting intangible assets» and is a response to the «total digitalization of social relations».
Bill No. 14057 provides for the following changes to protect individuals in the online environment:
Bihus.Info believes that this bill also poses risks for Ukrainian investigative journalists.
«This time, the menu includes blocking the ability to tell you about someone’s schemes before the court’s verdict, compensation for „moral damage“ for value judgments (this is when someone doesn’t like how you talk about them, even if the facts are OK), and also deleting „irrelevant“ materials — although it is not at all clear who will determine their relevance», the publication noted.
Journalists point out that the authors of the bill propose to automatically recognize information as false if it is not enshrined in a court verdict, and provide for punishment even for a subjective opinion.
«They even propose allowing people to claim compensation for criticism if the person involved did not like the tone of the publication», Bihus.Info notes.
In particular, in the section on the right to be forgotten, an individual may request the removal and destruction of information about themselves from publicly available sources if «such information is inaccurate, irrelevant, incomplete, obtained, stored, processed unlawfully, or has lost public interest».
«What does this mean? In short, to give the opportunity to delete information about anyone who is not a public figure in service or position. And without clear criteria for «irrelevance» and «loss of public interest,» the journalists point out.
Bihus.Info believes that Bill No. 14057 could block the work of many journalists in Ukraine, because any critical publication could become a reason for a lawsuit, and urges deputies not to vote for this bill.
