Russia: Introduced Bill restricting content blocking due to free speech

On 19 November 2020, the Amendment to the Federal Law “On Measures to Influence Persons Involved in Violations of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms, Rights and Freedoms of Citizens of the Russian Federation” was introduced in the State Duma of the Russian Federation. The amendment states that the owner of an internet-based information resource cannot restrict the dissemination of content classified as “socially significant information” uploaded by Russian users or legal entities based on “nationality, language, origin”, “attitude to religion” or “political or economic sanctions” introduced against Russia. Furthermore, the amendments would give the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, Roskomnadzor, the power to restrict or block access to the internet-based information resource if that entity was found by the Prosecutor General violating the user’s right to freedom of mass information.