PRII calls for reform of the Broadcast Moratorium
In its submission, the PRII highlights that the current moratorium, conceived in a pre-digital age, which restricts broadcasters from discussing election-related issues from 2 pm on the day preceding the election/referendum until the polls close on voting day, is outdated in the current media landscape.
Today, social media platforms and online content dominate, providing ample space for disinformation and divisive narratives to flourish, often unchecked by traditional regulatory frameworks. Given that these platforms remain outside the scope of the broadcast moratorium, the current restrictions unfairly curtail licensed and regulated broadcasters while leaving a vacuum that can be filled by less regulated, and often misleading, online content. The Institute advocates for amending the moratorium’s duration and scope to allow broadcasters to counter disinformation campaigns in real-time, ensuring electoral fairness.
The submission also emphasises the importance of professional communicators in combating disinformation and calls for the future inclusion of digital platforms in the regulatory framework.
The PRII submission can be read in full here:
An Coimisiún na Meán/the Media Commission sought views on the appropriateness of a range of options set out in the Broadcast Moratorium Consultation Paper.
