Falah assures govt. has no plans to regulate social media with media control bill

Ruling PNC’s parliamentary group leader, Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah has denied any plans by the government to regulate social media alongside the press under the controversial media bill currently under review by the Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee which if passed, would grant the government significant control over the media.

The government has proposed an amendment to the bill, to define ‘media’ as television, radio, CDs, websites, newspapers, publications, and other registered and unregistered sources for the dissemination of information, news and opinion.

As such, many have raised concerns over the possibility of the government regulating social media, just as the media, and in this regard, advocating for the upholding of the right to freedom of expression.

Falah, defending the bill submitted Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakr, an independent lawmaker aligned with the government, via a post on X, citing the bill does not include any provisions on regulating social media and restricting social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and X.

“Beloved youths and citizens, please continue to use social media to the fullest extent,” he added.

Speaking further, Falah, referring to a major rally planned by main opposition MDP for October 3^rd, said the event was organized by the party because relevant authorities have begun investigating “theft” carried out by senior officials of the last MDP administration.

“I am confident that our youth will not fall for the tricks of MDP activists wearing ‘journalist’ crowns,” he stressed.

Notably, Falah, while speaking during the preliminary debate of the media bill on August 27^th, suggested that journalists should be executed by ulubeyndhun or impalement - an ancient torture and execution method.

The remarks sparked widespread condemnation, with the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) demanding a public apology from Falah as well as the ruling party.

Neither Falah nor PNC has offered an apology, with the lawmaker later saying that the remark means something different where he comes from: “putting misbehaving individuals in a place higher than the ground”.

Journalists who attended a sit-down with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on August 28th afternoon to share their concerns regarding the bill said that he said he found the remarks “regrettable” and that he would investigate the matter.

Maldives Police Service has sought legal counsel from the Prosecutor General’s Office on investigating Falah for the remarks which has remained tight-lipped on the matter to date.