Lithuania

[LT] New Rules for the Protection of Minors

IRIS 2011-1:1/40

Jurgita Iešmantaitė

Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania

Recently the Lithuanian Government adopted a Resolution on new Rules for the categorisation and dissemination of information, which might have a negative effect on minors. The new Rules were prepared to facilitate the implementation of the Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information (“Law on Minors”) and came into force on 1 November 2010.

According to the new Rules broadcasters themselves are obliged to assess and determine if the to-be-published information might have a negative effect on minors. In doing so they have to follow the criteria provided for in the Law on Minors and to consider the content, the aim of its publishing and its possible effect. The effect of the published information depends on the particularity, duration, frequency and suggestibility of the images. In case broadcasters should doubt if they can do this themselves, they can apply to the Inspector of Journalists Ethics in order to assess and index the to-be-published information.

The Rules provide three TV programme categories, i.e., programmes for viewers under 7 (N-7), under 14 (N-14) and under 18 (S) years old. The age classification of the programme is to be shown on screen during the whole broadcasting time and the programmes are to be categorised in the Electronic Programme Guide and TV programme grid as well.

Accordingly, broadcasters are obliged to categorise announcements, too. Any announcement must carry a note saying “appropriate for N-7”, “appropriate for N-14” or “appropriate for S”. The latter could only be published from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Previously, such requirements did not exist.

The Rules set one more new requirement: to visually or orally warn the viewers with a note that the “Information might have a negative effect on minors” prior to the beginning of the programme in case the respective programme might contain such information, but is allowed to be published by law.

The Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania is obliged to control the implementation of the above-mentioned Rules. According to the LR Code of Administrative Offences, violation of the Rules incurs penalties from LTL 1,000 (approx. EUR 286) to LTL 10,000 (approx. EUR 2,860).