In response to requests from the Transparent Cities program, Mukachevo City Council stated that it plans to establish communication with the public on Facebook, including publishing page moderation rules, addressing negative comments constructively, and maintaining a dialogue with citizens. This is stated in the response from the Mukachevo City Council.

The Transparent Cities program sent requests to the Mukachevo City Council in response to inquiries from local residents. Residents claimed that representatives of local self-government on the official Facebook page of the city council restrict access to commenting for some citizens, and delete comments where residents report problems in the city.

At the same time, the municipality of Mukachevo claims that they delete only comments containing profanity, insults, hate speech, spam, false information, or calls for violence. 

When asked by Transparent Cities about the legal grounds for such actions, the city council stated that they do not have separate internal policies or regulatory documents governing communication restrictions on the Facebook page. However, they plan to develop these rules and publicly disclose them to all users. 

“These rules will take into account the recommendations made by your organization, particularly regarding the criteria for deleting comments and restricting access to comments,” the response specified.

Separately, the city council reported on “measures planned to establish the process of communication with the public through the Facebook social network, in particular:

1) Development of moderation rules, which will include the publication of moderation guidelines on our Facebook page, allowing all users to familiarize themselves with the criteria for deleting comments and restricting access to comments;

2) Constructive engagement with negative comments, focusing on the systematic and constructive handling of negative comments and addressing the issues raised;

3) Support for dialogue, which will involve encouraging communication with the public and maintaining positive interactions by responding to constructive criticism.”

“Our program will monitor the situation, and we expect positive developments. Being among the leaders of the Transparency Ranking is both honorable and responsible. Cities should adhere to high standards at all times and do everything possible to establish and maintain a dialogue with citizens,” said Olesia Koval, head of the Transparent Cities program.

It is worth mentioning that the Transparent Cities program has prepared practical tips for city councils to help them efficiently manage comments on social media, turning negativity into opportunities for growth and development.