Media Bill Will Not Regulate Ordinary Citizens, Says Minister

Minister of Information Ibrahim Waheed has clarified that the Media Bill currently before the People’s Majlis does not seek to regulate public conversations or independent content creators on social media.

Speaking at a government media forum last night, Waheed explained that the bill defines “media” as registered outlets. He stressed that its provisions apply only to licensed media organizations and their official social media accounts.

“This bill will not apply to individuals not associated with media. It will not apply to young content creators on social media,” he said.

The Media Bill, submitted by Thulhaadhoo MP as a private member’s proposal, has already been cleared by the Independent Institutions Committee. The Majlis administration has announced that the legislation is scheduled for a vote today, though the exact time has not been disclosed.