The Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Mohamed Nazim, has stated that he has never been against free media. In a statement released in response to news reports about his comments on media regulation, Nazim said that he has never been against free media at any time, nor is he someone who would obstruct media freedom. He also stated that he would never support such actions.
Nazim said that in his parliamentary career, he has advocated for and successfully achieved many things in protecting people’s rights. This includes working on drafting a Civil Service Act to protect the civil service from political influence when political parties were introduced.
Nazim stated that we must not forget that media is one of the foundations of a democratic society. He noted that although there are currently two institutions regulating media in the Maldives, these institutions are not functioning optimally. He pointed out that in 2024, more than 18 million rufiyaa has been spent from the state budget on these two institutions.
Nazim emphasized that his goal is to reform such inefficient institutions. He said that media outlets also want to identify their true guardians and ensure that these guardians are genuinely empowered to raise their voices. He added that with the increased use of social media, it’s important to regulate these platforms.
“This is not about curtailing media freedom in any way. When using such platforms, we need to recognize that others have dignity and honor. The means to seek justice should be through laws written in black and white, and it’s an undeniable fact that such a law doesn’t exist in the Maldives at the moment,” Nazim said.
Nazim further stated that many countries have already begun taking steps to regulate social media. He highlighted Ireland’s “Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022” as a notable regulatory law that came into effect in 2022.
He emphasized the importance of having a legal framework that protects everyone’s interests as technologies like Artificial Intelligence enter the media sphere.
