China Proposes Amendments to Emergency Law, Raising Concerns Over Media Freedoms
• China’s legislature proposes amending emergency law, which may limit media coverage of disasters • Amendment forbids individuals/institutions from spreading false information about emergencies • Requires government to provide timely info on emergencies and clarify false information • Seeks to establish “news interviewing and reporting system” to “support” media • Effectiveness depends on how vague rules like “false information” are enforced in practice