Russia: Implemented Law increasing fines for non-compliance with content blocking (Federal Law 511-FZ )

On 10 January 2021, Federal Law 511-FZ entered into force. The law introduces and raises fines for websites that do not remove information unlawful in Russia. The Law specifies that hosting providers, online platforms, and telecommunication networks that don’t accept and delete prohibited information according to Russian Laws face a fine of RUB 800’000 to 4 million. In cases of repeated violations, the fine would be 5% to 10% of the turnover from the year of the offence detection or the preceding year but no less than RUB 10 million. Furthermore, the Law outlines fines for failure to remove specific content, namely calls for extremist activities, pornographic images of minors, materials on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, amounting to RUB 3 million to 8 million. In cases of repeated violations, the companies face a fine ranging from 10% to 20 % of of their turnover in the year of the offence detection or the preceding year but no less than RUB 8 million. Law enforcement is delegated to the Roskomnadzor (Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media).