Russian Duma proposal to create internet censorship

[John Dunn]

The matter raised by Elena Gapova was recently discussed in Novaya gazeta:

http://www.novayagazeta.ru/politics/53357.html

I am inclined to share Michele Berdy's exasperation, especially in the present political context, but it may be worth noting that the wording of the bill has been significantly tightened during the second and third readings and that the new Minister of Mass Communications (a body traditionally opposed to tighter regulation of the Internet) has criticised the bill and called for further changes to be made before it becomes law. 

http://www.newsru.com/russia/11jul2012/webblacklists.html
http://www.newsru.com/russia/11jul2012/blacklist.html

John Dunn.

_______________________________________
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Elena Gapova [e.gapova at GMAIL.COM]
Sent: 11 July 2012 17:30
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Russian Duma proposal to create internet censorship

As the issue has been touched, what are American laws (if there are any) regarding foreign funding for NGOs? How are these regulated? The reason for my interest is a frequent referral to the new Russian bill regarding NGOs as a gross violation of rights.

Elena Gapova

2012/7/11 Michele A Berdy <maberdy at gmail.com<mailto:maberdy at gmail.com>>
Oh, I'm sorry. I really don't want to reply to this, and please feel free to stop this discussion, me included. But honestly, are you really arguing that this law is all about kiddie porn sites and not unlike what other countries do? What about the context? In the last months in Russia a law has been passed that makes public (non-governmental) assembly almost impossible, another law is working its way through the parliament to stigmatize and possibly close down NGOs that receive foreign funding, gay people are legislatively prohibited in some places from being, essentially, openly gay, people are being arrested for all kinds of public dissent (including what's on their t-shirts), another law is being discussed that might bring back the concept of slandering the state,  the black list of people (ie oppositional leaders) not allowed on TV is still in place, and now this draft law severely limits the freedom of internet  by imposing ex-judicial censorship (which, BTW, is prohibited by the Russian constitution). Can you really say that in this context - squashing virtually any legal way of expressing or even discussing disagreement with the present government -  that this law is really about kiddie porn sites?  For heaven's sake.

Apologies for my exasperation.

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