Digital rights and fake news laws passed in Russia

Russian lawmakers have established “digital rights” in domestic law as the basis for the digital economy, and have also introduced a package of bills to tackle fake news, reports the Global Legal Post. “Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, has voted to enact new digital rights legislation in October this year, after passing a third and final Duma reading. The law reportedly establishes the concept of ‘digital rights in Russian legislation, with the addition of a new article 141.1 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. The law determines how digital rights can be exercised and transferred, and establishes rules for digital transactions, including contracts.” Chairman of the state Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, stated that the digital rights law “forms the basis for the development of the digital economy. This is a new area for our rights, thus it is important for us to consolidate the basic concepts.” The Duma has also passed a cryptocurrency bill, due for adoption by the end of March. Meanwhile Russia’s Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, has approved a package of bills introducing fines of up to 1.5 million roubles ($22,900) for distributing fake news on the internet. The Duma adopted the draft laws on 7 March. The package covers circulation of unreliable socially important information threatening life or health of people, posing risks of civil disorder or to security. It also covers false reports resulting in threats to the functioning of vital infrastructure, transportation or social infrastructure, credit organisations, energy, industry or communications facilities. The Russian communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, will deal with network media outlets under a special procedure, and can order them to delete certain information or block the outlet if it fails to comply within the prescribed time limit. Read more

• Monday, 18 March 2019