Since the beginning of 2024, 421 complaints have been recorded in Ukraine regarding violations of language laws on the Internet. The Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language reported the adoption of 161 control measures, the issuance of 49 warnings, and the imposition of 16 fines for violations of language norms in the online space.
This was reported by the Secretariat of the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language on Facebook.
“Since the beginning of 2024, 421 complaints have been received regarding violations of the language law, which regulates the use of the state language on the Internet (which is almost 50% less than during the same period in 2023),” the report states.
Language Ombudsman Taras Kremin noted that a huge number of Internet resources have created a full-fledged Ukrainian version, which is loaded by default, and have fulfilled all legislative requirements within two years of the relevant law. But, unfortunately, there are some that have not done this yet or, for some reason, keep the start page in a foreign language.
Therefore, in 2024, based on citizens' complaints, it is reported that "161 state control measures were initiated against business entities that were successfully identified." Most Internet resources at the time of the state control measures reportedly eliminated violations of the language law. According to the Commissioner, as of September 10, 2024, "49 warnings have already been issued and 16 fines have been imposed" for violations of Article 27 of the language law (for the lack of a Ukrainian-language version of the site or for loading the site by default in a non-state language).
“Regarding those online representations for which it was not possible to establish the business entity, I constantly appeal to the National Police of Ukraine and the State Tax Service of Ukraine to identify the violators and hold them accountable. And they will not be able to do without a fine for violating language legislation alone. (…) By the way, some of the violators have already received increased fines for repeated violations. The punishment is irreversible!” Kremin emphasized.
On July 16, 2022, articles of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses came into force, according to which violation of the requirements of the law on the state language on the Internet may result in administrative liability with a fine of 3,400 to 5,100 UAH or a warning if the violation is committed for the first time. For a repeated violation within a year, a fine of 8,500-11,900 UAH.
