Could become a tool for repression against journalists: Rada urged not to pass draft law no. 10242

According to Slovo i Dilo, human rights activists are urging the Verkhovna Rada not to adopt draft law no. 10242, which seeks to strengthen criminal liability for unauthorized interference, sale, or dissemination of information processed in public electronic registries.

According to a statement by Amnesty International, this could have serious implications for freedom of speech in Ukraine.

Human rights activists highlight that the draft law poses a threat to the protection of journalistic sources and whistleblowers of socially significant information. It could also be used to target journalists investigating corruption schemes or abuses of power.

“This draft law not only violates journalists’ rights but also threatens media freedom in Ukraine. It creates a serious risk for the protection of information sources and undermines journalists’ ability to fulfill their professional duties. It could become a tool for intimidation and repression against those exposing corruption and abuse of power,” Veronica Velch, the organization’s director in Ukraine, stated.

The Media Movement community also released a statement urging members of parliament not to pass the draft law in its current form.

The statement emphasizes that the draft law does not include any mechanisms to protect those who disclose confidential information of public interest.

“Classifying such offenses as serious crimes opens the door for covert investigative actions against journalists, including wiretapping and surveillance, which severely undermine the standards for protecting information sources. The draft law is presented as meeting European Union requirements, yet its provisions contradict the principles of freedom of speech, the protection of journalistic sources, and whistleblowers, as outlined in international documents, including the recently adopted European Media Freedom Act,” the statement, open for signing, reads.

It is worth noting that the amendments to the Criminal Code regarding criminal liability for unauthorized interference, sale, or dissemination of information processed in public electronic registries, as well as harsher penalties during martial law for crimes involving the use of information and communication systems, were introduced in 2023. The draft law is currently awaiting a repeated second reading.

For context, Ukraine has climbed 18 spots in the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders over the past year.

An infographic from Slovo i Dilo provides insights into how the organization assesses press freedom levels in other countries experiencing armed or political conflicts.