The Press Council from Republic of Moldova calls upon all mass-media institutions from the country to hinder the spreading of defamatory messages contained in comments posted by visitors on websites and in sms texts sent during live shows.
Numerous mass-media consumers requested the Press Council to intervene for determining print and audio-visual press, as well as information portals, to stop diffusing slanderous messages sent as SMS by unknown persons during live shows on television or through comments posted on mass-media institutions websites.
The Press Council recalls that the freedom of expression is a democratic value protected by the European Convention for Human Rights, just as the right to defending reputation is.
After examining similar cases during the sitting from May 6th this year, the Press Council issued a common appeal to all mass-media institutions from the country, urging mass-media to take additional measures for moderating messages (sms and comments to articles from websites) which contain direct attack upon the person, xenophobe statements, licentious language, other discriminatory and defamatory texts. In such a way, potential cases of blaming for defamation by means of mass-media shall be avoided, and press institutions shall prove their accountability towards the public.