Antinian: Law on fight against fake profiles misinterpreted in Armenia

The struggle against libel and insults is praiseworthy, but the methods should be efficient, the editor of ‘Zhoghovurd’ newspaper Taguhi Tovmasian told a press conference today, when discussing the fight against fake profiles in social networks.

It is noteworthy that under the amendments to Armenia’s Civil Code, a mass media outlet may be held accountable for comments of fake profile holders if these comments contain insults or libel.

Taguhi Tovmasian said that the new law has some incomprehensible provisions. In her words, it is not clear, for example, how the identity of a fake profile holder can be established.

The editor of BlogNews.am website Aram Antinian said for his part that it is yet another law which has been misinterpreted, first of all, in social networks. According to him, many started to comment on the law without becoming familiar with its clauses.

“Moreover, instead of stressing that the law aims to protect the rights and dignity of people, many parliamentary deputies declared that it is against fake profiles,” Antinian noted.

According to him, the purpose of that legislative initiative is to restrict the press.

“They think that the Internet’s problem is a problem of the country. They should solve the problems of elevators in residential buildings instead of fighting fake profiles,” Antinian said, adding that the sphere is not in need of regulation because the Internet is developing rapidly and it is impossible to keep an eye on everything.