New features include comments on posts, scheduling posts, and secret lists of channel members. Bloggers and brands will continue to share news, attract new audiences and explore interests.

Users will continue to find interesting content while maintaining privacy. Any Viber user can create their own channel.

What’s new in Viber channels:

• Comments: In addition to the previously initiated reactions to the posts, comments have popped up on the channels. People can now exchange views and discuss with other members of the channel. Comments are turned on or off at the discretion of the channel management.

• Schedule posts: authors now have the ability to pre-plan future posts. To do this, you need to hit the submit button when publishing a post and select the desired time.

• Private channel member list: This feature allows users to protect privacy. The list of channel members is only available to admins and super admins, and users can only see the total number of members. This step ensures the privacy and security of data in Viber.

The management of the channel will be able to turn the community into a channel with the help of a special bot. Switching to the channel works in one direction, after the transition it will be impossible for the channel to be recycled to the community. All previous posts will remain available and community members will become members of the channel.

EU Code of Conduct for Combating Illegal Hate Speech on the Internet

Simultaneously with the rollout of these new features, Viber is signing the EU Code of Conduct on Combating Illegal Hate Speech Online.

Viber will monitor, analyze and delete publicly hostile expressions on channels on its platform. To this end, the company will collaborate with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice and Consumer Protection and a network of specialized non-governmental organisations.

If offensive or derogatory content appears on the channel, users or one of the participating organizations can mark the post as unacceptable and it will be reviewed by the Viber moderator team soon. Viber will consider such messages provided by the Rules within 24 hours.