Online mass media are to take responsibility for users’ comments

The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation says the Internet mass media have to edit their users’ comments. Otherwise, editors will be responsible for the messages left on their forums, or comments made to their articles.

This week Plenum of the Supreme Court is planning to accept draft regulations, where all the responsibilities of the Internet mass media for users’ comments, will be preconditioned. The decree had to be approved long ago, but the comment responsibility issue delayed the process.

Now online mass media will have to spend time and efforts, to read thoroughly the comments to their publications. If they don’t respond to claims on the issue of comments, they will be brought to responsibility.