The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission has issued a Code of Conduct for broadcasters, media personnel and journalists, setting out professional standards and ethical obligations for the media sector.

The Code of Conduct has been issued in accordance with the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act, which came into force earlier this year and mandates the Commission to establish standards governing media practice.

The Code outlines principles and rules that broadcasters, media practitioners and journalists are required to uphold in programming, content production and information disclosure. It provides detailed guidance on acceptable professional conduct, ethical reporting standards and responsibilities toward the public.

Under the Code, journalists and broadcasters are required to respect Islam, the Constitution and the laws of the Maldives, while safeguarding national security, public safety, social morality and public order. The Code also emphasises the protection of individual reputation and privacy, respect for human rights, and the obligation to ensure truthful, fair and transparent dissemination of news and information. Media professionals are further required to recognise and accommodate differing views and opinions on matters of public interest within the limits of the law.

Special emphasis is placed on the protection of vulnerable groups, including the need to give heightened care and attention to individuals requiring assistance within the community. The Code strictly prohibits the dissemination of content that directly or indirectly harms the rights and wellbeing of children.

The Code of Conduct also includes provisions relating to copyright and intellectual property rights. It states that content belonging to another party may not be reproduced without the permission of the rightful owner, and that presenting another person’s work as one’s own is a violation of professional standards.

In addition, the Code introduces guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in media content creation. It requires that any content produced using artificial intelligence must clearly disclose that AI has been used. The guidelines stress that AI should serve as a tool to assist journalism and content creation, and that all information generated or used must be properly verified.

Enforcement measures for violations of the Code are provided for under the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act. Newspapers and magazines found in breach of the Code may face fines ranging from MVR 5,000 to MVR 100,000.

Where individual media personnel or journalists are found to have violated the Code, the Commission may order corrective action. This may include rectifying the violation, issuing an apology, publicly correcting the offence, or making a public withdrawal or clarification in a manner and timeframe determined by the Commission.