State Duma to counter fake news on social networks - Speaker Volodin

MOSCOW. March 3 (Interfax) - State Duma deputies agreed it is necessary to counter fake news on social networks, which are damaging Russia, with legislative methods, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.

"Social networks owned by foreign companies and controlled by NATO and Washington will supplying us with false information, will be seeding discord and will be creating threats. Therefore, all deputies believe we must make a decision: this is an information war," Volodin said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel (VGTRK).

People need to understand they cannot post and repost information that seeds panic, Volodin said. The dissemination of false information "that does harm to the country during the special military peacekeeping operation" must entail "very serious responsibility," he said.

"Our colleagues are proposing a penalty of up to 15 years in jail," Volodin said.

Chairman of the State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee Vasily Piskaryov told reporters on Wednesday that amendments, which augment the Russian Criminal Code with Article 207.3, had been submitted to the State Duma. Sentences of up to 15 years in prison may be imposed for "knowingly disseminating false information about operations conducted by the Russian Armed Forces to fulfill their duty of the protection of citizens and the country," he said.

The amendments have been prepared for the second reading of another bill, Piskaryov said, adding that the State Duma might rapidly adopt the bill.