Russia considers fake news law that would fine social networks
Russia considers fake news law that would fine social
networks
Under it, websites would be responsible for deleting
inaccurate user comments.
Mallory Locklear July 23, 2018
Russia is considering a new law that would allow the
government to punish websites and social networks for user posts deemed
inaccurate, the New York Times reports. If passed, the new law would require
websites with more than 100,000 daily visitors and a comment feature to remove
inaccurate information posted by users within 24 hours. If they don't comply,
the sites could face a fine of up to 50 million rubles ($793,000).
The law would join others that already limit what social
media users are allowed to write and it's currently under consideration in
Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma. Of course the proposed
legislation is already sparking concerns about censorship. Artem Kozlyuk,
founder of anti-censorship site Roskomsvoboda, told the New York Times that
though the bill is being packaged as a way to boost public safety and stem
harmful misinformation, these types of efforts typically end the same way, with
the "expansion of the government's powers and censorship."
Earlier this year, Malaysia passed a law that
criminalized the spread of fake news while Egypt's parliament recently approved
legislation that will treat and regulate popular social media accounts and
blogs as traditional media outlets.
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