Tuesday
16th Dec 2025
Dhivehi Edition
Maldives journalists at a press conference Photo: President's Office.
The Maldives Media and Broadcasting Commission has published a Code of Conduct for broadcasters, media personnel and journalists, establishing professional standards and ethical obligations for the media sector.
The Code of Conduct has been issued under the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act, which came into force earlier this year and requires the Commission to set standards governing media practice.
According to the Commission, the Code sets out principles and rules that broadcasters, media practitioners and journalists are required to uphold in programming, content production and information disclosure. It provides guidance on professional conduct, ethical reporting standards and responsibilities toward the public.
Under the Code, media professionals are required to respect Islam, the Constitution and the laws of the Maldives, while safeguarding national security, public safety, social morality and public order. The Code also stresses the importance of protecting individual reputation and privacy, respecting human rights, and ensuring that news and information are disseminated truthfully, fairly and transparently.
Journalists and broadcasters are further required to recognise and accommodate differing views and opinions on matters of public interest, within the limits prescribed by law.
Special emphasis is placed on the protection of vulnerable groups. The Code calls for heightened care when dealing with individuals who require assistance and strictly prohibits the dissemination of content that directly or indirectly harms the rights and wellbeing of children.
The Code of Conduct also includes provisions on copyright and intellectual property rights. It states that content belonging to another party may not be reproduced without permission, and that presenting another person’s work as one’s own constitutes a violation of professional standards.
In addition, the Code introduces guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in media content creation. It requires that any content produced using artificial intelligence must clearly disclose the use of AI. The guidelines emphasise that AI should be used only as a tool to assist journalism and content creation, and that all information generated or used must be properly verified.
Enforcement measures for violations of the Code are provided for under the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Act. Newspapers and magazines found in breach of the Code may be fined between MVR 5,000 and MVR 100,000.
Where individual media personnel or journalists are found to have violated the Code, the Commission may order corrective action. This may include rectifying the violation, issuing an apology, making a public correction, or issuing a withdrawal or clarification within a timeframe and manner determined by the Commission.