A proposed initiative in Bugojno to introduce local public order measures allowing police sanctions for “insulting” or “disturbing” content on social media has raised concerns among journalists, media experts, and CSOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The proposal follows a similar decision previously adopted in Kakanj, where local authorities expanded the definition of “public space” to include online platforms, enabling police to issue fines for online expression despite the absence of clear implementation guidelines or oversight mechanisms. Civil society representatives and media freedom advocates warn that such local regulations risk enabling arbitrary enforcement, censorship, and selective targeting of journalists, activists, and political critics, while conflicting with international freedom of expression standards and domestic legal protections. The developments also reflect broader regional concerns regarding growing pressures on digital rights, online civic space, and the increasing use of restrictive measures to address political and social tensions in the online sphere. Read more here.
Source: Detektor