Bosnian Canton’s Move to Penalise ‘Fake News’ Worries Critics

The government of Sarajevo Canton, one of ten in Bosnia's Bosniak- and Croat-dominated Federation entity, has introduced a new draft Law on Public Order and Peace that would impose penalties of up to 2,100 Bosnian marks, around 1,000 euros, for spreading fake news. 

The cantonal government says the bill will protect citizens from fake news, but critics say it poses a serious threat to civil liberties. 

The draft law seen by BIRN introduces penalties of 600 to 1,800 Bosnian marks, or up to 900 euros, for anyone "who spreads or disseminates false news or claims that provoke panic or seriously disrupt public order and peace".

The fines for legal entities, including media, range from 5,000 to 15,000 Bosnian marks, or up to some 7,500 euros. 

The new draft law also predicts fines for responsible individuals in legal entities, ranging from 700 up to 2,100 Bosnian marks. Violations may occur in the online sphere or via the media.

"These kinds of repressive measures are against democratic principles," Leila Bicakcic, director of the Centre for Investigative Reporting, CIN BiH, told BIRN.

"You cannot allow the police to patrol the internet, deciding what is fake news or what is hate speech. This can be allowed only to well trained people, but our police definitely is not, because this can be interpreted in different ways and can only reduce freedom of speech," Bicakcic added.

The canton's Minister of Interior, Admir Katica, explained in a press-release that "offences such as serious threats, spreading hate speech, or disseminating fake news, can take on different forms and ultimately manifest in another public place, for example, on the street, in a park, and so on.

"This defines the legal framework for addressing...