---
title: "Threat to Freedom of Speech: International Experts Call for Review of Ukraine's New Civil Code"
description: "The International Press Institute has called on the Verkhovna Rada to review Ukraine's new Civil Code. Experts fear that norms regarding the \"right to be forgotten\" and confidentiality could limit freedom of speech and the work of investigative journalists. 🚨📰"
date: 2026-07-01T02:34:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/threat-to-freedom-of-speech-international-experts-call-for-review-of-ukraines-new-civil-code
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Threat to Freedom of Speech: International Experts Call for Review of Ukraine's New Civil Code

![Journalist with microphones and notebook symbolizes threat to freedom of speech due to Ukraine’s new Civil Code](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/01/mezhdunarodnyy-institut-pressy-trebuetsya-persmotret-grazhdanskiy-kodeks-ukrainy/mezhdunarodnyy-institut-pressy-trebuetsya-persmotret-grazhdanskiy-kodeks-ukrainy-1.webp)

The International Press Institute (IPI) has appealed to the Verkhovna Rada to review key provisions of the draft new Civil Code of Ukraine. The organization's experts warn that a number of proposed norms pose a direct threat to freedom of speech and could paralyze the work of investigative journalists.

### Risks for Media and Whistleblowers

According to the IPI press service, the document contains provisions that could negatively affect the activities of the media, the protection of whistleblowers, and work with open data. The Institute strongly recommends that parliament remove or substantially revise the controversial points before the second reading of the bill begins.

Particular concern is caused by the lack of clear guarantees in the draft for the protection of corruption whistleblowers from damage claims. This creates risks for those who report violations and may discourage them from cooperating with journalists.

### "Right to be Forgotten" and Censorship of Archives

The provision on the so-called "right to be forgotten" has been criticized. According to IPI experts, this norm could be used to demand the removal of archival journalistic materials on the grounds that they have lost public interest. This opens the way to rewriting history and concealing facts that have already become public knowledge.

The Institute also criticizes the expanded concept of "confidentiality of correspondence." In the draft, it applies not only to individuals but also to private and state companies. This could significantly limit the ability of journalists to publish documents of public interest, in particular, materials on corruption or the activities of government bodies.

### Problems with the Use of Open Data

Separately, the organization supported the Council of Europe's caveat regarding provisions requiring consent to use a person's name or image. IPI believes that such provisions could complicate the use of open government data, which is often the main source of information for journalistic investigations.

### Bill Status

The new version of the Civil Code was supported by the Verkhovna Rada in the first reading on April 28. Bill No. 15150 is being prepared for the second reading. After registration, the document was repeatedly criticized by media and human rights organizations due to norms that, in their opinion, could create risks for freedom of speech and access to public information.

It is important to note that the issue of freedom of speech remains relevant in wartime. Earlier, RBK-Ukraine wrote about the challenges journalists face in the current situation. On a global scale, Turkey, China, and Saudi Arabia remain the leaders among countries in the world in terms of the number of imprisoned journalists.