State Duma amends media law to prevent terrorist propaganda

State Duma passed amendments to the media law and the Law on Fighting against Terrorism intended to prevent terrorist propaganda in the media on the second reading at a session today. In accordance with the amendments, the use of the media for supporting extremist activities, disseminating information on the technologies for the making of arms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices, as well as for broadcasting programs propagating the cult of violence and cruelty is prohibited.

Additionally, the dissemination of information disclosing specific methods and the tactics of anti-terrorist operations via the media or in any other way is prohibited in the event that such dissemination complicates the carrying out of such operations or serves the purposes of propaganda or justification of extremist activities, including statements intended to block anti-terrorist operations, or to propagate or justify resistance to such operations.

The media is also banned from disseminating personal data on officers of special teams as well as persons providing assistance in anti-terrorist operations without their consent. 259 deputies supported this bill, 34 voted against it, and 2 deputies abstained from the voting.