Russia: Are Websites Responsible for User Comments?

The latest edition of the Supreme Court's decision says online news media will be responsible for user comments left on their websites, gazeta.ru reports [RUS]. A previous version implied no accountability for user comments, but it is now being revised due to pressure from RosKomNadzor, a government media and internet regulation agency.

2 comments

  • In Germany they are, according to BGH (Federal Court). It’s so called “Störerhaftung” and implies that you are responsible for content on your website as soon as you gain knowledge of it (some courts also say you have to block comments on your blog as long as you cannot read them; they sentences somebody who did not delete a racist comment at night). Moreover, you _might_ be responsible for the links of websites you link to, meaning that if I like to an article which then links to an illegal website I might be illegal myself (depending on indivual case and court).

    This shows how few judges over here know about the Internet and I guess the results will not be better in Russia ;)

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