Broadcasting and Media

Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are important values. But what happens, if a report is simply not true?

There is a natural tension between timely media coverage (“freedom of the press”) and personal rights of aggrieved parties. The Media Act aims to protect these parties: through a right to reply the aggrieved party may correct false information in the same medium. Further, the Media Act grants special protection of honour, private life (injury of personal living sphere), protection from disclosure of identity as a victim or suspect of a criminal act) as well as presumption of innocence, the non-compliance of which may lead to compensation payments by the media owners in criminal media proceedings. Further, the Media Act provides for “formal rules”, such as those regarding imprint and disclosure as well as the identification of paid advertisement.