Russia Outlawing Anonymity on Web

(Moscow, Russia) Proposed legislation mandates that undefined "required information" on Internet users be handed over to the government.

Internet providers operating in the Russian segment of the web will be forced to give information about their users to law enforcement agencies, according to a bill posted on the Justice Ministry’s web site.

Neither the bill nor an attached memorandum indicated what kind of information the providers would be obliged to hand over.

The legislation calls for fines to be levied on offending parties for not handing over the required information. The fines range from 1,500 to 2,000 rubles ($49 to $66) for citizens, from 3,000 to 4,000 rubles for officials, and from 30,000 to 40,000 rubles for firms.

In addition, the legislation calls for criminal charges to be filed against those suspected of tampering with state web sites. Misusing or tampering with material on state web sites could result in a fine of 200,000 to 500,000 rubles or up to three years in prison.

If the same crime is carried out by a group or a person with access to state information systems, the law calls for three to seven years in prison.

Once approved by the Justice Ministry, the legislation goes to the Duma.

Reports on the demise of police-state collectivism in Russia might have to be revised. Slowly, incrementally, it seems to be returning under Putin and Medvedev. Notice that I put Putin's name first. According to a poll published today, 67 percent of Russian respondents said they believe Putin still runs the country.

The poll also followed comments by Putin this month in which he said he and Medvedev would decide which of them would run in the next presidential election in 2012, fuelling speculation that he plans to return as head of state.

One source said that Medvedev doesn't even try to challenge Putin. Color me unsurprised.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.