Russian Anti-Extremism Legislation and Internet Censorship

Autor: Maria Kravchenko
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: The Soviet and Post-Soviet Review. 46:158-186
ISSN: 1876-3324
DOI: 10.1163/18763324-04602004
Popis: This article is focused on the enforcement of Russian anti-extremist legislation through web regulation. Russian law enforcement has shifted from a focus on preventing terrorist violence to a focus on prosecuting online hate speech and anti-authority rhetoric under current anti-extremist and anti-terrorist laws. The vague definition of extremist activity in federal law has been broadly interpreted by law enforcement agencies. Through the idea of public security, Russian law enforcement agencies have overestimated the threat of online content without regard for the context, audience, and impact of online statements. The result has been a steady increase in blocked access to web pages and sanctions on web users and providers. The article analyzes the legal norms pertaining to web content control, and details law enforcement practice and major trends. It also identifies the most common publications, people, and organizations targeted by Russian law enforcement for sanctions based on online statements.
Databáze: OpenAIRE