A law introducing self -censorship for social networks comes into force in Russia

In Russia, on February 1, amendments to the federal law on information introducing self -censorship for owners of social networks come into force. An important innovation was the emergence of the concept of a social network in the law.

These are a site, an Internet page or a program on which users create personal pages and disseminate information in the Russian language or languages ​​of the peoples of Russia. Under the definition, Internet resources attending more than 500 thousand users per day fall.

From now on, they are obliged to identify and block illegal content: fakes, calls for extremism, riots and participation in unauthorized rallies, declining minors to illegal actions, publications expressing "a clear disrespect for society, the state and the constitution."

Also, social networks should block child pornography, information about drugs and methods of suicide, advertising Internet casinos and online alcohol sales, posts that insult human dignity and public morality.

The owners of social networks are obliged to prevent their resources to use their resources to commit criminally punishable acts, disclosure of state secrets, propaganda of terrorism, the cult of violence and cruelty, the Parliamentary newspaper lists. A taboo is introduced on "all kinds of incitement and insults, it is impossible to defame citizens on the grounds of gender, age, race, nationality, language, religion, profession, place of residence and work, political beliefs." Be sure to comply with Russian laws on referendum and elections.

The law also prescribes to delete and block posts with obscene abuse, but there are no sanctions for this type of violations. If the owner of the social network doubts whether this or that material needs to block, he must contact Roskomnadzor. While the department does not decide, access to the disputed publication should be limited.

Users who disagree with blocking will be able to complain to the social network or Roskomnadzor administration, as well as through the court to demand compensation for moral damage from the social network if it has not removed the insulting publication.

According to previously adopted amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses, fines for unlawful information failure will amount to from 100 thousand to 200 thousand rubles for individuals and from 400 thousand to 800 thousand for officials. A fine of 3 million to 8 million rubles may be imposed on a legal entity.

Ignoring the requirements threatens with a fine of 200 thousand to 500 thousand rubles for individuals, for officials - from 800 thousand to 1 million rubles, for legal entities - from 1/10 to 1/5 of the total size of annual revenue. The minimum bar is 8 million rubles.

“We believe that this will protect users of social networks, especially children, from a huge amount of destructive information,” said Ekaterina Mizulina, director of the safe Internet league. Roskomnadzor will have to maintain a register of social networks , which have more than 500 thousand users per day. First of all, it is proposed to include nine sites: Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter, YouTube, VKontakte, Classmates, Telegram and WhatsApp.

The co -author of the amendments, State Duma deputy from United Russia Sergey Boyarsky said that amendments "are more likely moral and encourage social networks to monitor the atmosphere at their sites." According to him, by September, a number of initiatives can also be introduced to the State Duma aimed at "protecting the reputation of citizens, their honor and dignity, which are damaged by publications on social networks."