9:00 14 March 2019
Russia: fines for spreading fake news and insulting authorities
The upper house of the parliament of Russia, the Federation Council, adopted on Wednesday draft laws providing for penalties for disseminating false messages and insulting authorities on the Internet. The drafts were criticized by human rights activists.
The proposed regulations define fake news as unreliable information of a major significance for society, which is disseminated as trustworthy and which may jeopardize citizens’ health and lives, lead to massive violations of the social order and public security or result in disrupting the functioning of socially important facilities. Individuals and legal entities disseminating such information will face fines amounting to up to RUB 100,000 ($1,500) and up to RUB 500,000 ($7,600) respectively.
(PAP)
