Russia puts first sites on new Internet blacklist

November 01, 2012 19:23

Russia today put into force a new law on the Internet that allows the government to block websites with banned content, prompting fears that it will be used to suppress free speech. The law, which was hastily voted in by the parliament despite opposition from major Internet companies, is officially intended to protect children from viewing unsuitable content.

It targets sites that contain child pornography, information on drugs or calls to commit suicide. It also includes sites that a court has ruled extremist. But critics say its wording could be exploited to block opposition websites by planting banned material, potentially shutting down the most lively forum for political debate in Russia.

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