Legislative amendments which would restrict the operation of foreign Internet, social network and instant messenger services
In September, the Lower House of the Parliament of Kazakhstan reviewed the draft law "On Amendments and Changes to Legislative Acts on the Protection of the Rights of the Child". The draft amendments contain several norms that could be used to restrict the operation of foreign Internet-platforms, social networks and messenger services within the territory of Kazakhstan, thereby jeopardizing the continued presence of popular services such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp in KazNet. Restrictions on social networks and instant messenger services in Kazakhstan were an almost daily occurrence until the spring of 2019. However, in the past two years, in a very welcome development, theses practices decreased. The proposed changes would: require foreign Internet platforms, social networks and messenger services to...
In early December 2019, Vladimir Putin signed a law that will allow Russia to declare journalists and bloggers as “foreign agents” in a move critics say will allow the Kremlin to target government critics. Under the vaguely worded law, Russians and foreigners who work with media or distribute their content and receive money from abroad would be declared foreign agents, potentially exposing journalists, their sources, or even those who share material on social networks to foreign agent status. Under the law, all material published by an individual who receives funds from abroad will be labeled as having been distributed by a foreign agent. The law also says that any individual who distributes foreign media could be labeled a foreign agent. The three-tier system imposes fines for repeat offenders up to 100,000 rubles ($1...
aka "Law on pre-installation with Russian software” or “Law against Google”
The law banning the sale of certain devices that are not pre-installed with Russian software. The law will come into force in July 2020 and cover smartphones, computers and smart televisions. Proponents of the legislation say it is aimed at promoting Russian technology and making it easier for people in the country to use the gadgets they buy. But there are concerns about surveillance and fears that firms could pull out of the Russian market. The law will not mean devices from other countries cannot be sold with their normal software - but Russian "alternatives" will also have to be installed. A complete list of the gadgets affected and the Russian-made software that needs to be pre-installed will be determined by the government. But the legislation has faced criticism from manufacturers and distributors in Russia. The...
It outlaws “the spreading of information which shows blatant disrespect for society, the government, official state symbols of the Russian Federation, the Constitution of the Russian Federation or authorities exercising governmental authority in the Russian Federation”. Free thinking and criticism can result in blocking of the resource and fines lower than those for fake news, up to 100,000 roubles (approx. $1500) initially; but particularly zealous members of the public who do not quieten down after the first occasion and go on criticising the authorities can be fined up to 300,000 roubles (approx. $4500) or be placed in administrative detention for up to 15 days.[4] The ban not only applies to editorial staff of media agencies but also affects any active internet user. It therefore potentially affects not only...
Amendments to the Federal Law of 27 July 2006 No. 149-FZ “On information, information technologies and the protection of information”, under which the publication of fake news and information showing “blatant disrespect for the authorities in an indecent form” can be blocked, entered into force at the end of March 2019. Penalties for these infringements in the form of large fines and even administrative detention for up to 15 days were added to the Code of Administrative Offences at the same time. The author of the law, member of parliament Andrei Klishas, believes that “these laws protect human rights”. However, both experts and the public are already saying that these amendments constitute censorship, and rightly so. The new provisions outlaw so-called “fake news”, namely the spread of “information of public interest...
The amendments authorize bailiffs to block "untrue information"
Under the amendments, bailiffs have the right to block access to sites that refuse to delete information that was recognized by a court as "discrediting the honor and dignity of a citizen or business reputation of a legal entity."