Russia’s State Duma has passed the third reading of a law that will fine audiovisual services such as YouTube for redistributing TV channels in Russia that are not registered as media or which are no longer broadcasting.
Interfax reports that for legal entities the fines could range from R700,000 – R1 million (€9,909 – 14,155), while individuals risk being fined from R10,000-20,000 and officials from R1000,000-200,000.
At present the fines are set at lower levels, with legal entities facing sanctions of up to R700,000, with no fines for reoffending being set.
Meanwhile, the redistribution of audiovisual content deemed to be harmful to children will under the new law result in fines of up to R1 million.
