Refsilöggjöf

Refsilöggjöf is a term used in Icelandic public discourse to describe a proposed form of legislation concerned with the governance of sources and referencing in the information ecosystem. The etymology combines "refs," a shortened form of references or references in media and digital content, with "löggjöf," meaning legislation, to denote a regulatory framework that would set rules for sourcing, verification, and citation transparency.

In practice, proponents describe it as a framework to improve trust, combat misinformation, and promote accountability for platforms, publishers, and educators. Potential elements include mandatory source labeling, obligations to preserve source data for a defined period, transparency reports on sourcing practices, and penalties for deliberate misrepresentation. It could apply to newsrooms, social media companies, educational content providers, and governmental communications.

Critics warn it could be vague, impose compliance costs, raise freedom of expression concerns, and be difficult to enforce across borders. Some argue for narrower measures focusing on verifiability rather than content control. Given its status, refsilöggjöf remains primarily a topic of policy discussions and academic debate rather than a codified law in Iceland.

As a term, it illustrates broader debates about information governance in the digital age.