Russian government wants to ban bad language online

30 Jul 2013

Image via sgame/Shutterstock

The head of the Russian State Duma’s Committee for Family, Women and Children has proposed legislation to stamp out the use of bad language in online forums in order to protect younger internet users from viewing such profanity.

The amendment to the law ‘On the protection of children from information harmful to their health and development’ is to be discussed today, according to Russian news service Pravda.ru. It suggests that websites, social networks and other online forums containing swear words be blocked within 24 hours if this bad language is not deleted.

The proposal has been made by deputy Yelena Mizulina, who is also behind Russia’s controversial law forbidding the dissemination of information on homosexuality to minors.

One of the law’s supporters, Sergei Smirnov, associate professor at the Moscow Regional Bar Association, believes that restricting swear words online will protect children and better society. “Obscene language offends both children and adults. A ban on its use is not an infringement of human rights. This is a direction towards a civilised lifestyle,” he said. “If we do not use foul language in real life, then why do we use it on the internet? Deputy Mizulina calls to protect vulnerable layers of the population – particularly children. I think that this initiative should be supported.”

Bad language image by sgame via Shutterstock

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

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