Law on Social Responsibility on Radio and Television

[1] Its purpose was to establish a legal protocol for the ‘social responsibility’ of radio and television producers, broadcasters, viewers and listeners—both public/national and independent—in the dissemination and reception of transmitted media.

Its objectives, stated in Article 3, are: “[securing] respect for freedom of expression and information without censorship”; “[furthering] the actual exercise of and respect for human rights”; “[facilitating] the broadcasting of information and materials intended for minors”; “[furthering] the broadcasting of national productions and [encouraging] the development of the national audiovisual industry”; “[facilitating]the dissemination of the values of the Venezuelan culture”; and “[furthering]public participation.” Article 4 of the law allows the use of indigenous languages in programs directed specifically to indigenous peoples, and makes it a requirement to provide subtitles or sign language translation in informative programs for people with auditory disabilities.

The government called it a "building block for the modernization of the country's communications sector", whereas the opposition believes it increases state control over the media.

When a program is about to begin broadcasting, these content issues may be specifically described, in-detail, when the rating is listed; alternatively, the network may not have to describe the reasoning behind a rating, depending on the program’s severity and perceived need (or lack of) for a parental-guidance warning.

However, the law specifically declares that Venezuelan television/radio networks must air ‘cultural content’ (i.e. political advertisements).