Expert of Moldova says streaming app broadcasting banned Russian channels new form of Russian propaganda, must be blocked

The online streaming application that provides citizens with access to Russian channels banned in Moldova is a new form of Russian propaganda and must be blocked as soon as possible, according to a Watchdog community expert, Andrei Curararu, quoted by MOLDPRES.

"We have received more requests on behalf of citizens and have identified a string of problems related to this platform. The platform promotes itself as an alternative online television, which includes options like RTR, First Channel, and more channels that are banned in Moldova. Recent legislation related to the media services code tells us that it is not possible to promote such messages online or on air. Therefore, the Audiovisual Council (CA) intervened, in my opinion, quickly by requesting the blocking of these applications," the expert told MOLDPRES.

According to Andrei Curararu, the application is an initiative that does not have a business model linked to it.

"It is created, in order to influence public opinion rather than to make money. It must be blocked and conditions should be created, so that such platforms no longer exist in Moldova. In my opinion, the best approach is for state authorities to address Google, the owner of the app store. where this application exists, and to block the two links massively distributed through messages, whether via Facebook, Instagram, Viber or Telegram. The possibility of blocking is high. If the state hesitates to take the necessary measures, we might one day find ourselves in a situation that this informational vacuum is dominated by HaiTV or other sources that reactivate Russian narratives," Andrei Curararu added.