Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim has responded to the backlash he received for announcing intentions to submit a bill on media regulation, stating that regulation is not equivalent to blocking media platforms or taking away freedoms.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim has responded to the backlash he received for announcing intentions to submit a bill on media regulation, stating that regulation is not equivalent to blocking media platforms or taking away freedoms.
In an interview with Sun Online, Nazim said that he is working on submitting a bill to regulate media and internet, but he claims that media reports on his statement were inaccurate.
In a statement on social media platform X, Nazim said that although there are two regulatory bodies for media in the Maldives, the media too would accept that these bodies do not function properly.
"I have never been against press freedom. I would not work against freedom of press. I will never support such a thing," he wrote.
Nazim went on to say that there is an increase in numbers of youth using social media platforms, adding that 'everyone would accept' that this creates a need to better regulate such mediums.
"My aim is to reform institutions such as these that are largely ineffective... that is in no way a move to block such platforms or take away press freedoms," he said.
He highlighted that at present there is no law in the country within which cases of defamation on social media can be considered under.
With media reports on Nazim's statement, the government responded yesterday stating they had no such law is included in the government's legislative agenda, and there are no plans to enact a law regulating internet and media.
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