President Muizzu: Spreading lies through songs, TV, or social media constitutes defamation

The Maldivian government has submitted a bill to the People's Majlis to criminalise defamation, including false information spread through media and social media. Under the proposed law, individuals found guilty of defamation could be ordered to pay compensation ranging from 50,000 rufiyaa to 500,000 rufiyaa. During a press conference on Monday, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu explained that a person would be considered to have defamed someone if a lie is created about them through a song, a story on television, a drawing, or even a post written on social media. The bill, submitted by Vilimalé constituency MP Mohamed Ismail of the ruling PNC party, applies not only to media outlets, social media platforms, and online service providers, but also to broadcast media once it becomes law. Defamation is defined as causing loss of respect previously held for a person or generating public hatred towards that person due to providing false information through spoken words, written text, drawings, or via resources such as the internet and television. The bill stipulates that a defamation lawsuit must be filed within one year, and a decision must be reached within six months from the date the case is submitted to court. If the victim requests it and it is proven, the court must order compensation to be paid to the defamed person. Compensation for material damages ranges from 50,000 Rf. to 500,000 Rf.