MOSCOW, February 4. /TASS/: The Russian Federation Council (upper house) Commission on Information Policy and Cooperation with the Media considers it necessary to provide a legal option to block social media over calls for participation in unauthorized rallies, the commission said in a statement, presented by chairman Alexey Pushkov Thursday.
"The interim commission considers it necessary to upgrade the Russian law in order to prevent the use of social media in order to mobilize citizens for illegal actions. The interim commission also considers it necessary to introduce a system of penalties for the abovementioned violations in the Code of Administrative Offences - from fines to temporary or permanent blocking of internet platforms as a whole," the statement says.
"Such Internet platforms as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok became a source of calls on Russian citizens for participation in mass riots, a source of information, aimed at enticement or involvement [of citizens] in illegal actions, including those posing danger to life and health of others, as well as of false publicly meaningful information, disseminated as credible messages," the commission said.
According to the document, the commission strongly condemns actions of Internet companies that allow dissemination of messages, announcements, calls and other information, aimed at involvement of people, minors included, in unauthorized rallies.
"Such practice must be deemed unacceptable," the commission underscored.
Unauthorized rallies in support of blogger Alexey Navalny took place in Moscow and other major cities on January 23 and 31. The law enforcement warned that participation in an unauthorized event carries a legal responsibility. During Moscow's January 23 rally, almost 2,000 people were apprehended.
