Wikipedia shut down its Russian-language page on Tuesday to protest at a new bill that would boost government control over the internet amid a crackdown on those opposed to the regime of President Vladimir Putin.
Users who opened the site saw the Wikipedia logo crossed out with a stark black rectangle, the words "imagine a world without free knowledge" written in block letters underneath.
The bill, due to be considered by parliament on Wednesday, "will lead to the creation of a Russian analogue to China's Great Firewall" the website warned in a statement. The bill calls for the creation of a federal website "no" list and would have to be signed into law by Putin before coming into effect. Internet providers and site owners would be forced to shut down websites put on the list.
The bill's backers, from Putin's United Russia party, argue that the amendments to the country's information legislation would target child pornography and sites that promote drug use and teen suicide. But critics, including Russian-language Wikipedia, warned that it could be used to boost government censorship over the internet. Full story...
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Users who opened the site saw the Wikipedia logo crossed out with a stark black rectangle, the words "imagine a world without free knowledge" written in block letters underneath.
The bill, due to be considered by parliament on Wednesday, "will lead to the creation of a Russian analogue to China's Great Firewall" the website warned in a statement. The bill calls for the creation of a federal website "no" list and would have to be signed into law by Putin before coming into effect. Internet providers and site owners would be forced to shut down websites put on the list.
The bill's backers, from Putin's United Russia party, argue that the amendments to the country's information legislation would target child pornography and sites that promote drug use and teen suicide. But critics, including Russian-language Wikipedia, warned that it could be used to boost government censorship over the internet. Full story...
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