Russian Govt Confirms Mechanism to Block Access to Banned Online Content

MOSCOW. Oct 30 (Interfax) – The Russian government has confirmed a mechanism to block Web sites with banned content.

On October 26, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a resolution, due to come into force on November 1, that approves a list of banned Web sites and determines the criteria for the list operator’s work, as well as a procedure for adopting decisions to ban certain online content and a mechanism to block access.

The final resolution signed by the premier differs from a draft document, which was put up for public debate earlier.

Originally the bill directly prohibited abuse of law-abiding Web sites. The provision does not exist in the resolution signed by the premier.

The original document banned censorship – demands of the authorities or public organizations for the preliminary coordination of Web site content or blocking online distribution of particular materials. Also, it declared impermissible the removal of Web sites, that have no illegal content, and demanded the provision of “lawful interests” of operators, host providers and owners of “lawful” Web sites.

The Interior Ministry was excluded from the list of authorities entitled to add Web sites to the banned list. The draft document said that the Interior Ministry and the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications would list child pornography Web sites. The resolution gave power to the federal service only. No other amendments with regard to the authorized agencies were made: the Federal Drug Control Service will cite drug-related Web sites, the Federal Consumer Rights and Healthcare Service will expose suicide Web sites, and the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications will deal with information from any of the above categories and any other information banned by a court ruling.

The resolution reduced requirements for the future register operator – an outsourced organization to assist the federal service in maintaining the blacklist. That would be an organization registered in Russia and possessing technical and organizational abilities for the 24/7 maintenance of the register, including liaison with operators and host providers.

There had been more criteria in the initial document.

The resolution said the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications would create the register, which would be maintained jointly by the service and the outsourced operator. Many Internet market actors feared that a non-governmental organization would be made the register operator.