OSCE Media Freedom Representative deeply concerned about new laws in Russia which would further strengthen state control of Internet
VIENNA, 14 February 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his serious concern regarding the amendments to the Russian federal laws on Communication and on Information, Information Technologies and Protection of Information, which were adopted by the State Duma, in the first reading on 12 February.
“I am concerned by the vagueness and broadness of the objectives of the new legislation and the risk of restrictions to access to information,” Désir said. “While the aim is to ensure the sustainability of the Internet in the Russian Federation, the new powers given to the regulator over the routing of Internet traffic, along with the requirements for all Internet service providers to install technical mechanisms to withstand threats, may seriously affect the free flow of information. The central control mechanism over the Internet could also be used to cut access to the global Internet and impair the ability of the population to receive and impart information. I call on the Parliament to carefully review the proposed amendments by taking into account the transnational nature of the Internet and its important role for access to information and media pluralism.”
The draft law, among other things, proposes the introduction of new regulations on traffic routing and the granting of additional powers to the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) to increase the supervision of Internet control and traffic, manage the public communications networks, and restrict access to information deemed illegal under Russian law.
“The Internet should be overseen by a regulatory authority which is protected from any external interference, while restrictions on online content should be balanced and transparent and imposed only in strict conformity with international law,” Désir added.
“I recall that at the Ministerial Council meeting in Milan in December 2018, in the Decision on Safety of Journalists the OSCE participating States reaffirmed that the right to freedom of expression includes freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers and in the Declaration on the Digital Economy, they committed to the greatest possible access to the Internet and acknowledged its benefits. They recognized that the free flow of and access to information, including on the Internet, are essential for the digital economy and beneficial to development.”
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.