The draft law amending the Audiovisual Media Services Code (AMSC) was revised following its adoption in the second reading on 8 October, based on recommendations from audiovisual media experts and observations concerning its compatibility with European Union (EU) legislation. The amendments, approved by Parliament on Thursday, 29 October, in the third reading, cover the definition of hate speech, the obligations of media service providers and video-sharing platform providers, the protection of minors, and the conditions under which the reception of certain audiovisual media services from abroad may be suspended. The date of the law’s entry into force has also been changed.
The changes were introduced through an amendment submitted on 27 October by Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sport and Mass-media, and approved by the relevant parliamentary committee.
According to the document, the amendment was drafted on the basis of recommendations from groups of audiovisual media experts, with the aim of improving the draft law adopted in the second reading.
“The proposed amendment aims to align the regulatory framework for audiovisual media services with European legislation, clarify the provisions governing the activities of media service providers, and establish an entry-into-force date that will allow them to comply with the new requirements,” Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei explained during the parliamentary plenary session.
What provisions have been amended
According to the document, one of the revisions concerns the definition of hate speech. The new wording refers to any expression that incites violence or hatred against a group of persons or a member of such a group on grounds including sex, race, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, political opinions, disability, age or sexual orientation.
The provisions concerning illegal audiovisual content have also been revised. In this regard, video-sharing platform providers will be required to take appropriate measures to protect the public from programmes, user-generated videos and audiovisual commercial communications containing such content. These measures must be implemented in compliance with liability exemptions and the prohibition on imposing general monitoring obligations on intermediary service providers.
Other amendments concern the protection of minors. Under the revised provisions, programmes likely to impair their physical, mental or moral development, such as those containing pornography or gratuitous violence, may be broadcast only if measures proportionate to the potential harm are in place to ensure that minors would not normally see or hear them.
The provisions governing the suspension of reception of audiovisual media services provided by operators under the jurisdiction of certain foreign states have also been revised. Under the new wording, such a measure may be applied where the services or programmes concerned contain illegal audiovisual content, breach obligations relating to the protection of minors or are detrimental to public health. The Broadcasting Council will be required to specify in its decision the measures imposed and the date on which they will take effect.
The amendment also removes the requirement for independent producers to be established or registered in the Republic of Moldova and clarifies the definition of linear audiovisual media services and the obligations applicable to them. Other revisions concern requirements relating to programmes and audiovisual works, including a clarification regarding audiovisual works whose original language is Romanian and the assessment of certain obligations based on the volume of programmes broadcast.
The date of the law’s entry into force has also been changed. Instead of 1 January 2027, as initially envisaged, the new provisions are due to enter into force six months after their publication in the Official Gazette. According to the author of the amendment, this change is intended to give media service providers sufficient time to comply with the new requirements.
The draft law amending the AMSC, registered with Parliament on 31 July 2026, was adopted in the second reading on 8 October. The legislative initiative aims to harmonise the Republic of Moldova’s legislation with EU rules in the audiovisual sector and includes amendments concerning the activities of media service providers, audiovisual productions, the protection of the public and the regulation of the audiovisual sector.
Media Azi previously reported on the debates surrounding the provisions concerning the regional public media service provider in the Gagauz autonomous region during the examination of the draft law in the first reading.
The draft law is due to be examined and voted on in a fourth and final reading.