RSF commends Mongolian President's veto of dangerous social media bill
RSF commends Mongolian President's veto of dangerous social media bill
Reporters Without Borders strongly supports the Mongolian President’s veto of a controversial social media bill, warning that it grants the government arbitrary power to censor online content under vague pretexts like national unity. The organization urges Parliament to respect this decision and rewrite the legislation to properly protect journalism and the public’s right to access information, rather than overriding the veto. This issue is critically relevant to open data because the proposed measures would allow authorities to suppress factual information and reduce the distribution of data without independent judicial oversight. Such mechanisms threaten the transparency and integrity of digital public spaces, enabling politically motivated deletions that undermine trust in open systems. Protecting data from arbitrary state interference is essential for maintaining free and reliable information ecosystems. Mongolia’s recent history shows a persistent struggle with media pluralism and self-censorship, highlighting the dangers of allowing executive bodies to control digital content. By endorsing international standards for democratic safeguards in communication, the country can strengthen its press freedom standing. Ensuring that data remains accessible and unencumbered by political censorship remains vital for preserving democratic values and informed public discourse.
Source: akipress.comPublished on 2023-02-07