Russia Intends to Penalize Google for Neglecting to Filter Prohibited Web Sites
In a recent development, Google is facing potential sanctions in Russia due to its non-compliance with local search engine regulations. The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Communications (Roskomnadzor) has stated that it will take action against the tech giant for failing to exclude search results of websites blocked in Russia.
The regulations in question are part of a broader effort by the Russian government to control internet content and ensure compliance with Russian laws regarding information technologies and information protection. The law, Article 15-8 of the Federal Law "On Information, Informational Technologies and the Protection of Information," outlines the key components of these regulations.
One of the key components is the authority and enforcement of these regulations. Roskomnador, Russia's Internet and media watchdog, is the primary authority responsible for enforcing these regulations. A recent law signed by President Vladimir Putin transferred the authority to block mirrors of prohibited sites directly to Roskomnadzor, aiming to streamline the process and increase its effectiveness.
The blocking procedure involves identifying mirrors of blocked sites and notifying Roskomnadzor. Once confirmed, search engines, hosting providers, and telecom operators must restrict access to these mirrors within a specified timeframe. The new law optimizes this process, reducing the time for blocking from potentially four days to no more than two days.
All search engines, regardless of their advertising practices in Russia, are required to stop indexing and displaying information about blacklisted site mirrors. A new system is being developed to monitor compliance by search engines, VPNs, and anonymizers with blocking requirements.
While the exact fines for non-compliance with these regulations are not specified, it is clear that failure to comply can result in legal consequences. Generally, Russian law provides for fines and penalties for entities that do not adhere to restrictions on content and website blocking.
Google has been given 30 days to connect to Roskomnadzor's blacklist database. If it fails to do so, a fine of up to 700,000 rubles ($10,000) can be imposed. Measures will be taken by Roskomnadzor in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
The list of blocked websites includes those with content related to child pornography, drug abuse, extremist materials, and information violating data retention requirements or related to the Russo-Ukrainian War. The federal state information system, which contains a list of prohibited internet resources, is used to enforce these regulations.
This is not the first time Google has faced issues in Russia. In 2016, the company was fined for not removing content deemed illegal by Russian authorities, and in 2018, it was fined for not providing user data to Russian investigators.
The Russian government's stance towards cryptocurrencies is less strict, with the government approving the concept of the Ministry of Finance for the regulation of cryptocurrencies. However, anonymity is not guaranteed, as a new bill that would allow the government to designate media outlets, journalists, bloggers, and social media users as 'foreign agents' has passed in the first of three readings in Russia's lower house of parliament.
This news serves as a reminder of the complex regulatory environment that tech companies operate in, especially in countries with stringent internet censorship laws. As Google faces potential sanctions, it remains to be seen how the company will respond and whether it will comply with the Russian regulations.
- The Russian government's recent sanctions against Google indicate a broader focus on controlling internet content, further underscoring the role of politics in finance, as non-compliance with local search engine regulations can result in significant fines.
- In the context of these sanctions, the efforts to enforce the regulations on information technologies and protection are not limited to search engines, but also extend to VPNs, anonymizers, and hosting providers, demonstrating the complexity of general-news in terms of international business practices.
