Poland’s parliament has passed a controversial media law that could force the US-owned TVN24 news channel off the air.
The law, which still needs to be approved by the Senate and the president, would prevent companies from outside the European Economic Area from owning more than 49% of Polish media outlets.
TVN24, which is critical of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, is owned by the US company Discovery.
The US and the EU have condemned the law as an attack on media freedom and democracy.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Warsaw and other cities on Tuesday to protest against the law, waving Polish and EU flags and chanting “free media”.
Some opposition MPs also staged a sit-in in parliament, blocking the vote for several hours.
The law was eventually passed by 228 votes to 216, with 10 abstentions.
The PiS party argues that the law is necessary to protect Poland’s national interests and prevent foreign interference in its media.
It also accuses TVN24 of spreading “fake news” and serving foreign interests.
But critics say the law is part of a wider crackdown on independent media and judiciary by the PiS party, which has been in power since 2015.
They fear that TVN24, which reaches 13 million viewers a day, could lose its broadcasting licence when it expires in September.
The US State Department said it was “deeply troubled” by the law and urged Poland to “reconsider” it.
“This draft legislation would significantly weaken the media environment that the Polish people have worked so long to build,” it said in a statement.
The EU Commission also expressed its “serious concerns” about the law and warned that it could violate EU rules on media pluralism and free movement of capital.
“We will not hesitate to take action if needed,” said EU Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova.
