RAK against FACE: Procedure initiated rapidly after reactions from 'a part of the public'

(Patria) - Prompted by reactions from a part of the public in BiH after the broadcast of Centralni dnevnik with Senad Hadžifejzović on 10/29/2022 on FACE TV, the Communications Regulatory Agency (Agency) has, ex officio, initiated a preliminary procedure against the aforementioned licensee.

The reason for the Agency's swift reaction is the fact that a part of the public in BiH was disturbed by the possible use of a word that is inadmissible in public media space ("kill") in the aforementioned program content, which could be interpreted as incitement to commit criminal offenses, and viewed in the context of the provisions of the Code of Audiovisual Media Services and Radio Media Services, Article 3. (Basic Principles) paragraph 9.

Audiovisual media services and radio media services shall not transmit a clear and immediate risk of causing negative consequences including, but not limited to, death, injury, damage to property or other forms of violence, or obstruction of police activities and medical services or activities of other public order and security services, as well as Article 4, paragraph 2, which prohibits the broadcasting of content that may be interpreted by the audience as incitement to violence, disorder, and unrest, or that could cause or incite criminal offenses.

The Agency will, within its legal jurisdiction, as it does in every other case with any licensee, conduct a verification procedure regarding compliance with applicable rules and regulations in accordance with the provisions of the Rulebook on the Procedure for Resolving Violations of License Conditions and Agency Regulations (Official Gazette no. 77/21).

The public will be informed in a timely manner about the results of the preliminary procedure conducted.