Russian parliament debates controversial internet blacklist bill

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia’s parliament could approve on Wednesday, July 11 legislation that would give the state powers to block blacklisted websites, a move criticized by internet freedom activists who say the law could be used to crack down on dissent.

The all-party State Duma committee that drafted the bill, which was passed in its first reading on Friday, says it is necessary to combat websites that carry child pornography, drug promotion material and advice on suicide. The bill would see the creation of a federal agency to rule on which websites should be closed down.

Analysts say Kremlin control over national television channels means the internet has played a major role in the rise of unprecedented dissent against the twelve-year rule of President Vladimir Putin.

The bill has already been slammed by the Kremlin’s own council on human rights, which said last week that the law would see a "new electronic curtain" descended on Russia. The advisory body has also sharply criticized a number of recent bills, including one that vastly increases protest fines and a draft law that would force foreign-funded, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in politics to declare themselves “foreign agents.”

The bill could be adopted in its second and third readings on Wednesday and take effect on January 1, 2013.