• Freedom of expression

In recent days there have been news reports about the intentions of two government bodies to begin monitoring Internet media (and not only the Internet) for publications that violate Russian law. The monitoring will focus on publications about the first persons of the Russian state, and also about disasters, emergencies and crimes. 

Roskomnadzor, the Federal Inspectorate for Communications, Information Technology and Media, will from December begin round-the-clock monitoring of Internet media with the help of special software that will search for ‘words, expressions and other specified content from a list provided by officials.’ Moreover, the number of key words included in this glossary is expected to reach five million. A special point is made of saying that the purpose of the project is not to put pressure on the mainstream media, but rather it is individual, excessively radical, bloggers who may have problems. [Read more]