MALÉ, Maldives — In a move that has stirred substantial controversy and dissent, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives signed into law a significant media bill on Thursday. This law empowers a new government-backed commission with extensive authority to impose fines on media outlets and, in extreme cases, revoke their licenses.

The President's Office asserts that the legislation aims to "prevent the spread of false information" and "establish a framework that upholds both the rights and responsibilities of journalists." This new law results in the dissolution of the Maldives Media Council and the Broadcasting Commission, replacing them with the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission.

However, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has expressed strong opposition, pledging to "initiate legal proceedings" and to "encourage boycotting the election of commissioners under the Act." This response underscores the deep divisions regarding the bill's implications on press freedom.

Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel has clarified that the law will not affect "personal social media accounts used in a private capacity" and stated that digital storage devices are "completely excluded from the scope of this bill." He emphasized the intention behind the bill to create a "unified regulatory framework" by integrating the functions of the two erstwhile bodies into the newly formed commission.

Despite these assurances, the enactment of the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill (Act No. 16/2025) has been met with international concern. Both the Committee to Protect Journalists and the MJA have previously warned that the law could lead to draconian controls over the media. The US embassy in Malé has also urged the government to protect the rights to freedom of expression and the press.

In a joint open letter to President Muizzu, shared by Human Rights Watch, various rights organizations highlighted their concerns about the exclusion of journalists from the bill's development process and questioned the independence of the new commission, noting that a majority of its members are appointed directly by the President and Parliament.

The ruling People’s National Congress, with a supermajority in Parliament, expedited the bill's passage in just 29 days, ignoring a petition from 151 journalists who demanded that the lawmakers halt the legislation and ensure due process.

The swift enactment and the significant powers granted to the new commission have ignited fears among journalists and international observers alike, concerning the future of press freedom in the Maldives.