Russia steps up monitoring of online media for «illegal» content

Russia’s online watchdog Roskomnadzor has launched in 19 of the country’s regions an automatic system of content collection and analysis in all online media has started in 19 regions of Russia, aimed to seed out “illegal materials,” according to Izvestia newspaper citing Roskomnadzor chief Alexander Zharov.
"The analytical core is at the Main Radio Frequency Center. By the end of 2016 the project will be completed. To date, the information is coming from 19 regions,” said e chief of the Russian online watchdog.

“The number of violations has increased at least twice. We try not to punish [the perpetrators], because the system is new. We call to fix the violations, and I think it will improve the quality of the media in the entire territory of the Russian Federation," said Zharov.

Today in Russia the activities of editors and journalists is regulated by the law "On mass media", which lists information banned from publishing in its Article 4.

 The media must not publish materials containing "public calls to terrorist activity or statements publicly justifying terrorism, other extremist materials, and materials that promote pornography, violence and cruelty, as well as materials that contain foul language."

In addition, it is forbidden to disseminate information with instructions on how to develop, manufacture and use, as well as where to purchase, narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors; propagation of any advantages of using certain drugs and psychotropic substances.