Controversial social media law of Mongolia to be discussed by Parliament
The "Law on protecting human rights on social media" which threatens to limit freedom of expression comes back to Parliament of Mongolia this week after the President has vetoed the law in January.
"Law on protecting human rights on social media", the law identified as “dangerous“ by the Reporters without borders, comes back to Mongolia’s Parliament this week after facing strong opposition from local citizens, civil society and international media and human rights organizations.
Photo: Speaker Zandanshatar Gombojav addresses Parliament as Mongolia’s Parliament convenes for its Spring session after taking break for over a month. Source: Parliament.mn
The law, which avows to protect human rights violation on social media, lacks regulations that would serve its designated purpose, but includes many other that gives state the ultimate power to regulate and even shut down internet and communication channels based on a very broad and subjective decision making process.
More importantly, the law was passed within 48 hours after it was first seen by public without allowing a reasonable time to review and provide consultations on the draft, which is a violation of already existing legal regulations in Mongolia as well.
As you probably remember, the passage of this law was when this newsletter was born. And after the President vetoed the Law on January 27th, Mongolia’s Parliament is now obligated to decide on whether to accept or override the veto within the first 10 days of their Spring session, which opened on Wednesday.
On the first day of the Spring session, the Standing Committee on Law convened and decided with 100 percent vote to accept the veto. The veto will be discussed and decided by a couple of standing committees, including the Standing Committee of Security and submitted to Parliament for final vote. It is expected that the Parliament will finalize on the law on Friday. Now it requires more than two thirds of Parliament members to vote in favor of the President’s veto for the law to be officially annulled.
Photo: Standing Committee on Law discusses President’s veto and votes in favor of it with 100 percent support. Source: Parliament.mn
International media and human rights community has expressed strong opposition against the law after it was initially passed and commended the President’s action to veto the law while urging the Parliament members to accept the veto.
While the Freedom on the Net coalition, which Mongolia is a member of, stated that the “new law in Mongolia could seriously undermine and chill free expression online for people in the country”, the Asia Internet Coalition commended the President’s veto.
Note from the author: Nest Center for Journalism Innovation and Development NGO will make its best effort to keep the international community updated about the turn of events regarding this legislation. The “Mongolia Media Watch” Newsletter will convert into its initially intended format of telling success stories of Mongolia’s vibrant media entrepreneurs starting April, 2023, depending on the developments of the legal environment.
Meanwhile, may I ask what else you would like to read from Mongolia Media Watch?