Media scrutiny intensifies towards Romania's regulatory body, following the removal of a video suggesting Calin Georgescu's election ban is tantamount to a coup.
Firing Up the Controversy: Romania's National Audiovisual Council under Scrutiny
The spotlight has been cast upon Romania's media regulator, the National Audiovisual Council (CNA), after it ordered the removal of a video by journalist Marius Tucă, who labeled the Central Electoral Bureau's decision to exclude pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu from the presidential race as a coup d'état.
Tucă, a staple on Romanian political talk shows, often discusses Georgescu's case on his YouTube channel, inviting guests like former prime minister and presidential hopeful Victor Ponta.
This removal is part of a renewed crackdown on online disinformation initiated by Romanian institutions following the cancellation of the presidential elections in 2024.
CNA has issued several removal orders for clips that incite hate, violence, or spread severe disinformation, such as those by influencer Makaveli. For instance, CNA recently summoned TikTok to pull down videos advocating for violence against members of the Central Electoral Bureau, which supporters of Georgescu alleged were traitors.
CNA also issued a removal order for incitement to violence after George Simion posted a message on Facebook and TikTok, suggesting that those involved in the coup should be punished publicly. Other messages targeting journalists were also taken down.
However, the removal involving Marius Tucă sparked criticism from top officials like prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who argued that CNA's decision to censor opinion materials from journalists undermines democracy and infringes upon the right to free expression.
Crin Antonescu, the ruling coalition's presidential candidate, echoed these concerns, stating that the removal was an instance of censorship, not regulation. He further commented that CNA's members should justify their decisions based on the law, not personal opinions or political reasons.
The controversy deepened when Vasile Bănescu, a former spokesman for the Romanian Orthodox Church and now a CNA member, stated that contradicting an institution's decisions is not the job of an objective journalist. Human rights NGO APADOR-CH called for his dismissal, accusing him of lacking knowledge on freedom of expression and its boundaries.
In response, Bănescu clarified that his statement was "unfortunate."
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(Photo credit: Inquam Photos, George Calin)
Additional Insights:
- The National Audiovisual Council (NAC) has been actively removing illegal online content, particularly during election periods, to combat false information, incitement, and glorification of totalitarian regimes.
- Romania has been embroiled in election controversies, including allegations of Russian interference and disputes over election results, leading to a re-run of the presidential election in 2024.
- The NAC is responsible for regulating audiovisual content, ensuring compliance with legal standards, and addressing issues like misinformation and hate speech in Romania.
- The National Audiovisual Council (CNA) in Romania, under scrutiny after removing a video by journalist Marius Tucă, has been active in 2024, renewing its crackdown on online disinformation, including clips that incite hate, violence, or spread severe disinformation.
- The removal order for Marius Tucă's video, discussing pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu's exclusion from the 2024 presidential race, has sparked criticism from top officials, including prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who argue that it undermines democracy and infringes upon the right to free expression.
- Romania's political landscape in 2024 has been marked by controversies, including election controversies and allegations of Russian interference, leading to a re-run of the presidential elections.
- The CNA has also issued a removal order as a response to general-news, such as George Simion's post suggesting public punishment for those involved in a coup, and has summoned social media platforms, like TikTok, to pull down videos advocating for violence against members of the Central Electoral Bureau.
