The? Mass Media Inspection Service banned more than 180 websites after receiving a? flood of? complaints in? the first three days new restrictions were in? force, the? service’s head said Friday.
Alexander Zharov told journalists in? Novosibirsk that over the course of? three days, more than 6,000 complaints had been submitted about websites allegedly containing content that could be harmful to? children, including child pornography, material encouraging suicide, and? information on? drug production and? distribution, Interfax reported.
Individuals, businesses, organizations and? government bodies can submit requests that the agency? review a given website and place it on a blacklist.
The? list was created on? Nov. 1 by? legislation allowing restriction of? content that the government deems illegal or harmful to? children.
Free-speech advocates have voiced concern that the? law’s current wording makes it possible for? entire websites to? be shut down if one page on the site contains offending material.
Zharov said Internet providers have actively responded to? notifications of? “negative information” on? pages they host. He said the? country’s largest social network, VKontakte, had acted particularly quickly in? taking down restricted content.
The? blacklist is not publicly available. Zharov did not specify which Web pages had been blocked so far.
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