He blocked Facebook and Twitter and signed into law a bill criminalizing the intentional spreading or distributing of “fake news”.
These actions against social media giants are in response to blocks imposed upon the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Deutsche Welle, a German broadcaster, and Meduza, a Latvia-based website. In order to tighten control over the information that the country’s citizens see about the invasion of Ukraine, the government has taken sweeping actions against foreign media outlets publishing news in Russian.
Roskomnadzor, the state communications watchdog, said that it blocked access to Twitter and Facebook due to a decision made by the prosecutor general. The watchdog previously accused Twitter of not deleting content that was banned by Russian authorities, and it slowed access.
Twitter stated Friday afternoon in a statement that it was aware of reports that its platform has been blocked in Russia. However, the company has not been able confirm this.
The bill was quickly approved by both chambers of the Kremlin-controlled parliament, and signed by Putin. It imposes a maximum of 15 years imprisonment for anyone who spreads information that is contrary to the Russian government’s narrative about the war.
According to Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador in Russia, the question about Russia is not “what do we do to stop disinformation.” “The question must be: How do we promote information within Russia? I don’t know the answer.”
Multiple media outlets stated that they would suspend their broadcasting in Russia for the purpose of evaluating the situation. CNN and CBS News both stated that they would cease broadcasting in Russia, while Bloomberg and BBC announced they would suspend temporarily the work of their journalists.
Russian authorities repeatedly and falsely denounced reports of Russian military setbacks in Ukraine or civilian deaths as fake news. Russian invasion of Ukraine is being described by state media outlets as a “special army operation” and not a war or invasion.
Vyacheslav Volodin (the speaker of the lower chamber of parliament) stated that the measure would “force those who lied or made statements discrediting the Armed Forces to bear very serious punishment.”
He said, “I want everyone understand, and society to understand that we are doing it to protect our soldiers, officers, and the truth.”
For spreading false information about the military, the law allows for sentences up to three years and fines. However, the maximum punishment for those who are found to have caused “severe consequences” is 15 years.
Roskomnadzor blocked Facebook due to its “discrimination” of Russian media and state information sources. In a statement, the agency stated that Meta, the owner of Facebook, had placed restrictions on Russian news channel RT.
“Obviously Putin is closing these people down because of his fear. McFaul stated that he wouldn’t shut them down if things were going well during a conference call with journalists and experts hosted at Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center. This is an indicator of his mental state.
Meta’s president of international affairs Nick Clegg tweeted that Russia’s actions had caused “millions” of Russians to be cut off from reliable information and deprived of all their daily ways of communicating with their families and friends. He also said that they would silence them from speaking out.
Clegg stated that “We will continue doing everything we can restore our services so people can safely and securely express their opinions and organize for action,” Clegg said.
Russian media blocks against five foreign media outlets are some of the most important and critical foreign media publishing in Russian.
Roskomnadzor claimed that these media had published “false Information” about subjects such as “the methods of combat activities (attacks against civilians, strikes upon civil infrastructure), and the number of losses of Russian Federation Armed Forces. and civilian victims.”
BBC Director General Tim Davie stated that the legislation “appears criminalize independent journalism.”
He stated that “the safety of our employees is paramount” and that they are not willing to put them at risk for criminal prosecution just for doing their job.
Davie stated that the BBC’s Russian-language news services would continue to be available from outside Russia.
The BBC had posted instructions on Twitter earlier in the day about how Russian readers could get around the block using apps and the “dark Web.”
“Access to reliable, accurate information is a human right that should not be denied to people in Russia,” said the BBC. Millions of Russians rely on BBC News each week. The BBC stated that it will continue to work with other countries and make BBC News accessible in Russia.
The BBC announced earlier this week that it would be restoring shortwave radio transmissions to Ukraine and other parts of Russia to allow people to listen to its programs using basic equipment.
Russia’s most prominent media outlets have decided to shut down rather than be subject to strict restrictions regarding what they can report. Znak, a news website, announced that it would close Friday morning after parliament approved the draft bill. After receiving threats of closure by the authorities, Russia’s most independent radio station Ekho Moskvy closed on Thursday. Independent TV station Dozdh also suspended operations.
Authorities also continued to make a concerted effort to attack human rights organizations.
The offices of Memorial, Russia’s oldest and most well-known human rights organization, were raided by authorities. Memorial members claim that police did not give any explanation or issue warnings.
“The police refused me and my lawyer entry without explanation. When I tried to not allow in reinforcement officers in bulletproof vests or masks, they threatened force if I didn’t let them in,” International Memorial Yan Rachinsky chairman stated. “This is the level today of justice in Moscow.”
Civic Assistance, another important human rights group, was also raided in Moscow.
