Bulgarian Information Websites to Be Controlled by State

The Bulgarian Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications has demanded control over the information websites.

“The rules for the media should apply to the information websites as well because they are also media. Writing in forums, however, is a right of the people who participate in a discussion. Everybody is allowed to freely express their opinion,” Minister Alexander Tsvetkov said in an interview for the Bulgarian Darik Radio.

According to him, the problem comes when unchecked information is being announced. He added, however, that comments should not be censored because they are a corrective of everything and no one should be scared of critics.

The issue with the control of the content in Internet has been discussed this week at the meeting of the temporary committee for drafting a new electoral code.

Minister Tsvetanov said that many small towns in Bulgaria do not provide Internet access, which, in his words, in a serious disproportion.

He announced the results of a study, done by an international NGO, which show that Bulgaria is among the first 10 countries in the world in the quality of Internet.

“Few people live in the small towns. Therefore, the investments are unprofitable and the private sector does not have an interest to invest there. This is why the state will stimulate the Internet providers in the small towns and will provide financing for creation of an Internet infrastructure,” the minister said.