Fake news bill poses dangers for democracy

The fake news bill submitted by the government and backed by the legal service is dangerous for democracy, Akel MP Irene Charalambides charged on Thursday as she wrote to the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).

“The bill in my opinion, is a huge threat for freedom of expression.”

International, European and Cypriot journalism groups have decried the bill, saying it leaves a “chilling effect on press freedom”.

The legal amendment provides for the conversion of a series of civil offences into criminal offences, as well as a prison sentence of up to five years.

In a post on X, Charalambides said she had written to Matteo Mecacci, director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and sent him the bill.

It has been discussed in parliament 11 times, has the backing of the legal service and is expected to head to plenum in September, she specified.

“I call on Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis to withdraw the bill, which I consider dangerous to democracy. It takes us back to regimes no one wants to remember.”

The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ), Cyprus’ journalism ethics committee, journalists’ union and publishers’ association have all decried the bill and called for its withdrawal for months.

“We have been voted in to defend democratic institutions. We cannot be the ones to be discussing such a dangerous bill which borders on gagging and essentially threatens every citizen which exercises criticism,” Charlambides said.

Earlier this week, the journalism ethics committee warned it is the second time this year that some MPs have attempted to promote such an amendment on the criminalisation of fake news.

Deputy AG Savvas Angelides has defended the bill saying families and young people were ruined by fake news, and this form of criminal activity must be addressed.