Amendments to the Russian Federation Criminal Code to prevent destructive content dissemination

The Federal Law was enacted alongside federal laws On Amendments to the Federal Law on Information, Information Technologies, and the Protection of Information and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation and On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. These laws were introduced to counter the spread of destructive content in the information space, particularly in the form of so-called trash streams.

The Federal Law introduces greater responsibility for certain intentional crimes that endanger the life, health, freedom, honour, and dignity of individuals (such as murder, bodily injury, kidnapping, illegal deprivation of freedom, and others), when these acts are carried out with public display, including through the media or information and telecommunications networks (including the internet). In order to limit access to information resources of those convicted of such offenses, the court will have the authority to impose an additional penalty, depriving them of the right to hold certain positions or engage in specific activities.

The commission of other crimes accompanied by a public display, whether in the media or through information and telecommunications networks (including the internet), will be considered an aggravating factor in determining the punishment.