China revises proposed law restricting media coverage of national emergencies

Posted by Mica Swyers on June 26, 2007 at 10:58 AM

Criticism from delegates and local people’s congresses has led China’s National People’s Congress to revise a proposed law that would restrict media coverage of national emergencies. First introduced in June of 2006, the law proposed placing $13,000 fines on media outlets using unauthorized or fabricated information to report on public emergencies.

The revised proposal lifts the requirement for government authorization of information, instead focusing only on media outlets using falsified information. Media outlets in violation of the law will incur “warnings, punishment, or prosecution.”

Concerns arose among local governments that the Chinese government would use the restrictions in the proposed law to downplay the seriousness of national emergencies, defined as industrial accidents, natural disasters, and public health or security crises, in attempt to avoid public embarrassment.

Source: Jurist through Google

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