Moldova

Code of Audiovisual Media Services, Law No. 174/2018, arts. 15, 61, 84

Effective 2019-01-01 · Applies to both

Article 15 binds every media service provider to the minor's best interest and, at paragraph (6), prohibits linear broadcasting of programmes likely to affect a minor's physical, mental or moral development, especially those containing pornography or unjustified violence; paragraph (7) allows such content in linear services only behind a conditional access system, and paragraph (8) allows it in on-demand services only where access restriction measures keep minors from normally seeing or hearing it.

Article 61(1)(a) extends this protection-of-minors duty by name to providers of on-demand audiovisual media services, covering on-demand video and rerun-video services under Moldovan jurisdiction. The Broadcasting Council (Consiliul Audiovizualului) is tasked under Article 15(9)-(10) with fixing the detailed content classification, scheduling and access-restriction rules in its own Audiovisual Content Regulation, whose own provisions are not described here.

A first violation of Article 15 draws a public warning under Article 84(3)(a); failing to comply with a Broadcasting Council decision enforcing the minors-protection duty draws a fine of MDL 10,000 to 15,000 under Article 84(6)(a). This provision applies to both private and public (state) media service providers alike.

Source: Full text of law