Georgia

[GE] New Amendments to Law on broadcasting enter into force

IRIS 2025-8:1/9

Andrei Richter

Comenius University (Bratislava)

Amendments to the 2005 Law of Georgia “On Broadcasting” were adopted by the Parliament of Georgia on 12 June 2025, and entered into force on 13 June 2025.

The Law provides stricter accountability requirements for “media service and video sharing service providers” and “media service and video sharing service platforms” to the national media regulator, the Communications Commission (ComCom).

It rephrases para 9 of Article 70 (last amended on 22 December 2022 by Law No 2482-Xრს-Xმპ) by stipulating that the media shall also provide, if requested by the ComCom, “confidential information (bank secrecy)”.

An additional paragraph to the law (Article 70, para 9-1 ) now provides that in case of failure of the media service and video sharing platform service provider to submit to the ComCom confidential banking information, or in case of incomplete submittal, the ComCom shall be authorised to request that information directly from the commercial bank and/or microbank in accordance with the procedure established by the Administrative Procedure Code of Georgia.

Para 8 of Article 8 (introduced on 30 June 2023 by Law No 3448-XIმს-Xმპ) is amended to say that litigation in connection with the ComCom’s sanctions on “media service and video sharing service providers” and “media service and video sharing service platforms” may suspend their enforcement only if the decision concerns the suspension/cancellation of a broadcaster’s licence (authorization to broadcast). Any other sanctions, such as monetary fines shall now take effect immediately.