The 12th Annual BRAF Meeting Was Held: Focus on Hate Speech in the Media
The 12th Annual Meeting of the Black Sea Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (BRAF), established under the leadership of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), has concluded. Speaking on the final day of the meeting, RTÜK Vice President Deniz Güler emphasized that broadcasts containing hate speech and incitement to violence are subject to sanctions under the law.
Hosted by the Albanian Media Authority (AMA) in Vlora between September 16 and 18, the 12th Annual Meeting of BRAF was held under the main theme of “Hate Speech and Freedom of Information in Audiovisual Media and Online Platforms.”
In addition to RTÜK from Turkey, media authorities from Azerbaijan (ACRA), Armenia (CTR), Bulgaria (CEM), Georgia (ComCom), Moldova (CA), Serbia (REM), and Greece (NCRT) participated in the meeting. RTÜK was represented at the meeting by Dr. Deniz Güçer, Member of the Supreme Council and Secretary General of BRAF, Tuncay Keser, Member of the Supreme Council, and Deniz Güler, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council.
The meeting, which began with high attendance, featured opening remarks on the first day by Dr. Deniz Güçer, Member of the Supreme Council and Secretary General of BRAF; Armela Krasniqi, President of the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA); and Dr. Merve Safa Kavakcı, First Deputy Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Permanent Secretariat. The speeches emphasized that hate speech in the media is not merely a matter of freedom of expression; it is a global problem that threatens social security, human dignity, and faith in democracy. Therefore, the message that regional cooperation, shared sensitivities, and decisive steps play a critical role in combating hate speech was highlighted.
Panels on Hate Speech Held on the Final Day of the 12th Annual Meeting of BRAF
On the final day of the 12th Annual BRAF Meeting, two panels were held titled “Hate Speech and Freedom of Information in Audiovisual Media” and “Hate Speech and Freedom of Information on Online Platforms.” The panels addressed ethical principles, legal regulations, and international perspectives.
Deniz Güler, Vice President of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), spoke about legal regulations and oversight activities in Turkey during a session moderated by Nicoleta Lupu, Head of the Communication and External Relations Unit at Moldova CA. Emphasizing that freedom of expression is a fundamental element of democratic societies, Güler noted that the use of this right to spread hate speech could seriously damage social peace.
Reminding that RTÜK carries out licensing and supervision duties, Güler stated that broadcasts containing hate speech and incitement to violence are subject to sanctions under the law. He emphasized that sanctions ranging from warnings to fines and, when necessary, suspension of broadcasting are applied, that there is no prior censorship in Turkey, and that all decisions taken are subject to judicial review.
In his speech, Güler also touched on the issues of Islamophobia and violence against women, stating that RTÜK contributes to combating Islamophobia in the media through the international events it organizes. He also stated that they aim to strengthen the culture of equality in the media with the “Ethical Principles” published on March 8, 2024, International Women's Day.
The session also featured Ismat Sattarov, President of Azerbaijan (ACRA); Theodora Papadaki, Legal Expert at Greece's NCRTV; Armela Krasniqi, President of Albania's AMA; and Tinatin Tchatchukashvili, Senior Expert at Georgia's ComCom.
On the final day of the conference, the topic of the second panel was set as “Hate Speech and Freedom of Information on Online Platforms.” The panel discussed public awareness campaigns and international strategies for regulating online media content. The panel was moderated by Armela Krasniqi, President of the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA). Panelists included Saša Simović, Deputy Head of the Legal Department at REM in Serbia; Anna Hovhannisyan, Chief Legal Counsel at CTR in Armenia; Iliya Lyutskanov, Chief Expert at CEM in Bulgaria; and Nicoleta Lupu, Head of the Communication and External Relations Department at CA in Moldova. Participants shared international practices and experiences in combating hate speech on online platforms.
The meeting concluded by emphasizing the determination to strengthen cooperation among the media regulatory authorities of participating countries and to develop common strategies to combat hate speech in the media. The 12th Annual BRAF Meeting once again highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and laid the groundwork for concrete steps to strengthen transparency, accountability, and ethical principles in the media sector.
