written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
25 Dec 2020
Journalist, Editorial Department
At a recent meeting of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, lawmakers approved a definition for "social network" and mandated that owners of such platforms conduct independent monitoring and block content that is prohibited by law. This regulation will take effect on February 1, 2021.
Under the new definition, a social network is an online resource that disseminates information through user-created personal pages, with a daily user base exceeding 500,000 individuals. A dedicated department within Roskomnadzor, the federal executive body responsible for overseeing communications, will maintain a registry of social networks.
The document stipulates that social networks must analyze all incoming information to block any illegal content posted on their platforms. This includes information that is banned from distribution within Russia, such as advertising campaigns promoting illegal gambling activities.
According to the authors of the bill, the current situation in the illegal gambling market can only be rectified through the adoption of relevant amendments to the existing legal framework. Previously, Roskomnadzor launched a campaign against offshore gambling operators by prohibiting the advertisement of illegal gambling.
It is also noteworthy that on December 23, the State Duma of the Russian Federation passed legislation to establish a unified regulator for the gambling industry in Russia. This body will be called the "Unified Regulator of Gambling" and will be responsible for monitoring all transactions in the gambling sector. The Ministry of Finance will oversee the agency's operations.
Additionally, it is important to remember that construction of a gambling zone in Crimea is set to begin in 2021.
