The government has officially denied any plans to introduce a bill aimed at regulating the media, following reports that suggested such a move was being considered.

This clarification came after Vice-President of the Parliament Ahmed Nazim made statements to a Maldives media outlet indicating that a new bill to regulate media and internet resources was in the works. The comments raised concerns and sparked controversy, particularly regarding the potential impact on press freedom in the country.

However, President Office Chief Spokesperson Heena Waleed quickly refuted the claims, stating in a post on X that the government is not pursuing any such legislation. She emphasized that the proposed bill has not been included in the government’s legislative agenda, and there are no plans to introduce it in the future.

Heena further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to media freedom, highlighting that it has been the government's policy from the outset to deregulate the media and support a self-regulatory system. She underscored that one of the top priorities of the current administration is to establish and maintain the widest possible media freedom.