A sweeping regulatory measure targeting online and broadcast media has cleared parliament, prompting accusations of a clampdown on dissent in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The Maldives parliament on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, approved the Maldives social media bill 2025 formally the Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill creating a powerful commission to oversee and penalise media outlets, including digital platforms, despite fervent opposition from journalists and civil society groups who decried the process as undemocratic.
In South Asia, where social media has become a vital tool for public discourse and accountability, the Maldives social media bill 2025 represents a potential erosion of digital freedoms that could embolden similar restrictions across the region, from India to Sri Lanka, undermining fragile democratic gains.
Passage of the Maldives Social Media Bill 2025 Amid Tensions
The bill advanced through an extraordinary session of the People’s Majlis, convened by the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) while parliament was in recess. With the PNC and its allies holding 79 of 93 seats, the legislation faced little resistance in the vote. Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim presided over proceedings, expelling seven opposition members for protesting the rushed timeline.
Protests erupted outside the Majlis building on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, as journalists and activists clashed with police in a bid to halt the bill’s progress. The Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) organised the demonstration, highlighting fears that the measure would stifle investigative reporting and online expression.
The 27th sitting of the second session of 2025 marked the bill’s formal adoption, listed under number 20/2025/ބ-23 on the parliamentary docket. This followed months of deliberation, including a closed-door committee review that drew criticism for lacking transparency.
Key Provisions in the Maldives Media Bill Public Outcry
At its core, the Maldives social media bill 2025 establishes a seven-member Media and Broadcasting Commission to unify oversight of traditional and electronic media. Three commissioners are appointed by parliament, while four are elected by registered media organisations; however, all can be dismissed by a parliamentary majority, raising alarms over executive influence given the PNC’s dominance.
The commission wields authority to impose fines, suspend operations, or shutter outlets for content deemed contrary to religious norms, national security, or public order. Electronic media encompassing internet-based audio, video, and news dissemination is explicitly brought under the same stringent rules as broadcast channels. This extension to online platforms has fuelled the Maldives media bill public outcry, with critics arguing it could criminalise social media posts challenging government narratives.
According to Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel, the legislation targets registered media entities and excludes personal social media use in a private capacity. He emphasised that it aims to set “clear standards and a code of conduct” to combat misinformation and coordinated content manipulation.
Similarly, Minister of Youth Ibrahim Waheed clarified that the bill interprets “media” as registered professionals, sparing casual content creators, particularly young people on social platforms.
Maldives Media Bill Public Outcry: Voices of Dissent
The Maldives media bill public outcry has resonated far beyond the atoll capital of Male, with domestic and international bodies condemning the bill as a threat to press freedom. Ahmed Naaif, secretary general of the MJA, described the measure as “draconian,” warning it would “muzzle dissent online and offline” and enable unprecedented internet censorship. The association pledged defiance, vowing journalists would resist executive overreach.
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, leader of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), labelled the passage a “sad day for democracy,” asserting it “signifies the end of press freedom in the Maldives.” The MDP urged public mobilisation against what it termed a “draconian control bill.”
Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid echoed these sentiments, accusing the government of declaring “war on free speech” by seeking to silence accountability voices. Hussein Siraj, president of the Bar Council of Maldives, called for substantial revisions to align the bill with constitutional principles and global standards.
Internationally, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed deep concern, urging President Mohamed Muizzu to veto the Maldives social media bill 2025 and honour commitments to media protection. The United States Embassy in the Maldives pressed authorities to safeguard expression freedoms, including dissenting views.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had earlier, on August 28, 2025, demanded withdrawal of the draft, citing its potential to place regulation under executive sway. A joint letter from civil society groups, including the International Federation of Journalists, decried the bill’s submission to parliament as a setback for reforms.
Government Response to the Maldives Media Bill Public Outcry
Defenders of the Maldives social media bill 2025 frame it as a necessary update to an outdated framework, integrating the roles of the Maldives Media Council and Broadcasting Commission. According to the Foreign Ministry, the law bolsters public trust in media by tackling disinformation challenges in the digital age.
In August 2025, President Muizzu met with journalists, assuring amendments to contentious provisions under review. However, the final version retained core elements that sparked the Maldives media bill public outcry, with no further official revisions announced post-passage.
Background
The Maldives social media bill 2025 evolved from efforts to modernise media governance amid rising online misinformation concerns. Introduced earlier in 2025, it faced scrutiny during committee stages, where opposition and media groups pushed for safeguards. Despite assurances of consultation, the extraordinary session bypassed broader input, exacerbating divisions in a nation ranked 112th on the 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
What’s Next
The bill now awaits President Muizzu’s ratification, with the MJA and MDP calling for its rejection. Activists plan sustained campaigns, while international watchdogs monitor for veto or amendments.
As scrutiny intensifies, the Maldives social media bill 2025 stands at a crossroads, testing the archipelago’s commitment to open discourse amid regional pressures for tighter controls.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, September 18th, 2025
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