The Communications Commission has fined  GDS TV GEL 5000 for unlawfully broadcasting a film that is unsuitable for minors and instructed the broadcaster to comply with the Georgian legislation.

The case concerns the movie “Braveheart”, which contains scenes of violence, murder, sex and nudity. GDS TV aired the film during an inappropriate time slot, and without the appropriate age restriction label. The film, which is unsuitable for viewers under the age of 12, was shown at 18:15. According to the legislation, content that is unsuitable for viewers under the age of 12 cannot be broadcasted between 06:00 and 21:00.

According to the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting, scenes depicting violence and murder are unsuitable for minors under the age of 18, while scenes depicting sex and nudity are unsuitable for minors under the age of 15. Braveheart has been rated R by the Motion Pictures Association of the United States, meaning that it is unsuitable for minors under the age of 17.

Due to the fact that the representative of GDS TV admitted the offence at today’s hearing, the Communications Commission imposed the minimum amount of fine stipulated by the legislation and instructed the broadcaster to comply with legislative requirements for protecting minors from harmful influence.

The Commission also takes into account the objective circumstance ethat the recent changes in regulations regarding the broadcasting of programmes unsuitable for minors came into effect on 1 September 2020. The Commission therefore believes that broadcasters need a certain amount of time to bring their broadcast schedules in line with the legislation.

Recent changes in the Code on the Rights of the Child and the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting are designed to protect children from harmful broadcasted and online content. Parents are provided with flexible mechanisms for restricting their children’s access to virtual spaces that may harm them mentally.