Regulation of Internet zone and freedom of mass media discussed at Eurasian Media Forum in Almaty

The first theme of panel discussion was regulation of Internet zone and freedom of mass media.

Rapid development of new forms of mass media amid tough commercial competition sets new challenges and tasks to mass media and legislators today. To date Internet has turned into an important factor of public, political and economic life of each country and the issues of regulation of the global network creates a difficult dilemma for all modern states, the participants of the conference noted.

According to former Representative of the OSCE for Mass Media Miklos Harasti, if people want to live in a democratic society they will refuse from excessive regulation of internet and will admit that Internet has been and will be the only source of pluralism.

In turn, Makram Khoury-Machool, a journalist, expert of the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London, noted that western standards in regulation of freedom of word should not be imposed on those countries which have their unique history and traditions. Besides, he pointed out that western mass media are more developed from technological viewpoint and major information flow comes namely from the West which makes the local mass media less competitive.