MMBC Urges Media Outlets to Inform Call Recipients Before Broadcasting

The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission (MMBC) has issued a statement urging news outlets and broadcasters to observe strict codes of conduct, legal guidelines, and professional standards when broadcasting phone calls, interviews, and live interactions. 

According to the Commission, the advisory follows public concerns raised after a domestic television channel placed a call to a state-owned enterprise and broadcasted the live phone conversation without prior clear notice. The issue stems from an earlier broadcast by RaajjeTV, during which a reporter called a STELCO employee live on air regarding the forced registration of staff into a political party. STELCO subsequently suspended the worker following the broadcast.

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The statement highlighted that Article 24 of the Maldivian Constitution guarantees the sanctity of an individual’s private life, family, home, and personal communications, emphasizing that all media parties are legally required to respect these constitutional protections.

The MMBC further outlined the statutory obligations under Law No. 16/2025 (Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act), specifically citing Articles 38, 39, 40, and 41, which mandate that media professionals uphold standards protecting personal dignity, individual reputation, and human rights.

The Commission outlined several key directives, stating that broadcasters must verify that individuals answering a call have no objection to the conversation or their personal information being broadcast to the public. If a media outlet intends to broadcast a phone interaction live on air, it must explicitly notify the call recipient before or at the moment the call goes live. 

Furthermore, gathered information must only be used for its stated purpose in the public interest, with strict measures in place to verify authenticity, safeguard personal details, and protect source confidentiality, notes the commission.

In its statement, the MMBC concluded its directive by urging all journalists, media houses, and broadcasting organizations to strictly adhere to establish ethical boundaries, ensure fair dealing, and maintain professional accountability across all live programmes and broadcast communications.