Blocking of Internet sites and
regulation of messengers in Russia: legal developments
Amendments to the Federal Law No. 149-FZ of 27 July 2006 "On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection", which came into force on 1 October 2017, provide, inter alia, for the administrative procedure for restricting access to copies of Internet sites blocked by a decision of the Moscow City Court in connection with the repeated and illegal placement of information containing copyright and (or) related rights, or information necessary to get access thereto (so-called mirror sites).
Effective 1 November 2017, the measures to counter use in the territory of Russia of firmware and software providing access to blocked information resources and information and telecommunications networks (i.e. VPN services and anonymisers) are taking effect.
Since 1 January 2018, the organisers of the dissemination of information on the Internet will have additional duties in the event they are providing for the functioning of instant messaging services.
Contacts:
Yana Dianova
Director of the Corporate and Commercial Law Department, GRATA International (Moscow)
T.: +7 (495) 660 11 84
