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On 9 December 2016, the District Court of The Hague convicted Dutch politician Geert Wilders for statements that he made on 19 March 2014 during a televised speech. On this date, Wilders asked his audience during a public meeting whether they wanted more or fewer Moroccans. In response, the audience cheered “Fewer! Fewer! Fewer!” numerous times. Wilders then said: “Well, then we are going to take care of that.” Both Wilders’ statements and the cheering of the audience were recorded and broadcast by the Dutch public broadcaster NOS. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service charged Wilders with incitement...

On 23 December 2016, the Dutch Supreme Court dismissed Ryanair’s complaints against the Court of Appeal’s finding that KRO’s television programme regarding the airline was not unlawful (see previous decisions, in IRIS 2015-10/23 and 2013-7/20). KRO had aired in late 2012, and early 2013, two episodes of a programme in which the business practices of Ryanair were said to compromise flight safety. More specifically, it was said that pilots were encouraged to fly with the absolute minimum of fuel and that they felt obliged to fly whilst feeling unwell. In July 2014, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal upheld...

The Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs signed a new regulation on 24 October 2016 on a right of compensation for subscribers to public electronic communication services. These comprise subscribers to Internet, television, or telephone networks. Following the new rules, subscribers are entitled to compensation in case of full network failure. The new ministerial regulation follows after revision of the Dutch Telecommunications Act. The “Wet Versterking Telecommunicatiebeleid” (Reinforcement of Telecommunications Policy Act) provides a long-awaited reinforcement of the protection of subscribers. The...

On 25 October 2016, the Dutch Senate agreed on the final package of amendments of the Mediawet (Media Act). After some debate between the State Secretary of Education, Culture and Science, the House of Representatives and the Senate, the new Media Act can now enter into force. After previous attempts to amend the Media Act 2008 (see for an earlier proposal IRIS 2013-4:1/22), the Senate passed the latest version of the bill on 15 March 2016 (IRIS 2016-5:1/25). However, the Senate still was not entirely satisfied with the proposed amendments. It requested, as a precondition for passing the bill,...

In summary proceedings on 10 November 2016, the District Court of Amsterdam rejected a request to prohibit the Dutch broadcasting association BNN-VARA broadcasting an episode of “Rambam” containing hidden-camera footage from undercover journalists. As stated on its website, the plaintiff “Dokteronline.com” is an online doctor service that informs consumers about health, symptoms and treatments, and facilitates contact with medical specialists and/or pharmacies. Rambam is a Dutch television programme, broadcasted by BNN-VARA, that investigates consumer issues by means of undercover journalism. During...