Armenia to tighten controls on foreign content deemed harmful

Armenia is preparing to prohibit the distribution of harmful content originating from foreign resources if it is deemed to constitute interference in the country’s internal political affairs.

According to Sputnik Armenia, the Cabinet of Ministers approved amendments to the Law on Audiovisual Media at a meeting held earlier on December 26.

The decision was announced by High-Tech Industry Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan in a statement posted on social media.

Under the proposed legislation, the distribution of content aimed at the violent overthrow of the constitutional order will be banned. The restrictions will also apply to materials that promote war, violence, and cruelty, or pursue similar objectives.

The amendments further provide for the suspension and revocation of licenses of network operators found to be in violation of the established regulations.

Minister Hayrapetyan said the changes are intended to limit the circulation of information that negatively affects citizens. He noted that the measures are designed to prevent the spread of disinformation, violence, incitement to hatred, and other forms of harmful content.

By Tamilla Hasanova