Ukraine plans to significantly tighten control over the use of the Ukrainian language on the Internet. Particular attention will be paid to the YouTube and TikTok platforms, which have become the main sources of information and entertainment for young people.
What is offered?
Taras Kremin, Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, noted that the Ukrainian parliament is considering the possibility of introducing amendments to the legislation that would provide for stricter control over compliance with the language law on the Internet.
The goal of the initiative is to increase the share of Ukrainian-language content on the network and make it more accessible to Ukrainian users, in particular teenagers.
The application of such measures is part of Ukraine's integration strategy into the European Union. According to Kremen, the linguistic environment in EU countries is actively protected, and this applies not only to the offline space, but also to the Internet.
“Language is not only culture, but also access to information and services. Ukraine must create favorable conditions for the development of Ukrainian-language Internet content,” the language ombudsman emphasized.
Kremin emphasized that today most teenagers use Russian-language applications and content. In addition, violations of the language law occur among athletes, officials, and service workers.
To accelerate the transition to the Ukrainian language, it is necessary to:
- State funding of programs for the production of Ukrainian-language content.
- Public awareness raising.
- Creating high-quality Ukrainian products, including films, books, and mobile applications.
If the relevant changes to the legislation are adopted, a significant increase in Ukrainian-language content on YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms is expected. This will be an important step in forming Ukrainian identity in the digital space and will contribute to Ukraine's integration into the European community.
