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Currently, audiovisual content on the internet in Armenia is not subject to any regulation, but legislative changes may be implemented in the near future, according to Tigran Hakobyan, Chairman of the Television and Radio Commission.
Speaking at a press briefing, he stated that in recent years, the commission has repeatedly emphasized the need to regulate the internet, but this approach has faced resistance from both certain NGOs and some lawmakers.
Hakobyan reminded that the current Law “On Audiovisual Media” contains a provision stating that the internet is not subject to regulation.
“The situation only changed last year, when stricter approaches to internet regulation began to be applied worldwide, including in Europe,” he noted.
According to Hakobyan, the main beneficiaries of an unregulated internet are individuals who spread hate, misinformation, and content that misleads the public.
He gave examples such as false medical information, the use of deepfake technologies, political manipulations, and calls for violence, emphasizing that these have become global problems.
“Legislation is already being adopted around the world to try to limit deception, misinformation, political manipulations, and calls for violence online,” said the TRC chairman.
Hakobyan stated that the commission has presented its vision and recommendations to the Ministry of High-Tech Industry. He added that, since the commission does not have the right to initiate legislation, the legislative work will be carried out in cooperation with the ministry.
“In the near future, we plan to begin work on a draft law that will, in some way, also regulate audiovisual content on the internet,” Hakobyan concluded.