DEFAMATION ON THE INTERNET MAY BECOME CRIMINAL OFFENSE

The State Duma is to consider a draft law, which provides for the establishment of liability for defamation on the Internet. We are talking about part 2 of Article 128.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which now establishes a punishment for defamation, which is contained in a public speech or in the media.

The draft law has been submitted to the lower house of Parliament. Its author is the deputy Dmitry Vyatkin.

According to the parliamentarian, the innovation should close the gap, since various kinds of Internet sources, which do not have registration as a media, are gaining popularity.

The new rule will contain an addition on liability for defamation, which was disseminated through information and telecommunication networks, including the Internet. In addition, the disposition of the article may be supplemented with liability for defamation against several persons, while individually undefined.

The proposed criminal liability for an act is equivalent to a sanction for public defamation and is expressed in a fine of up to 1 million rubles or compulsory labor for up to 240 hours.