Verkhovna Rada drops bill No. 10242, protested by the Media Movement and human rights advocates

The Verkhovna Rada failed to adopt the draft bill No. 10242, which was opposed by the Media Movement and media and human rights organizations, on December 4.

The draft bill expands and introduces criminal liability (8 years in prison) for publicly disclosing confidential data from public registers during martial law.

Journalists and human rights advocates believe that the bill would create a tool that may be used to persecute journalists. Namely, it would enable wiretapping and surveillance of journalists by the government.

Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported on Telegram that, in total, only 213 deputies voted for the draft bill, so the document was submitted for a second reading with 229 votes.

“The Rada dropped the cringeworthy bill No. 10242 on introducing criminal liability for unauthorized interference, sale, or dissemination of data processed in public digital registers… Let me remind you, it was in that bill that they cleverly inserted a provision to return the property confiscated from corrupt officials if they make a deal with the investigation,” Zheleznyak wrote.

Previously

On December 2, 2024, the Media Movement, as well as Ukraine's media and human rights NGOs called on the Verkhovna Rada deputies to not support the draft bill No. 10242 in its current version. The draft bill expands and introduces criminal liability (8 years in prison) for publicly disclosing confidential data from public registers during martial law. At the same time, the draft bill provides no protection mechanisms for those who report on confidential data of public interest.

On December 4, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, the chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech, proposed removing draft bill No. 10242 from the agenda and holding additional consultations with international partners and media professionals on how to protect personal data without infringing on the rights of journalists.