Putin calls for right balance in Web regulation with freedom in place

MOSCOW, Dec 23 (PRIME) – Russia should find a golden mean in Internet regulation without supressing freedom but protecting the society against possible negative effects, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday at an annual news conference.

“Certainly, it’s a huge problem for the whole world and for us. This is the root of the requirement to ‘ground’ these platforms, so that they open their representative offices here to follow the country’s law. As to moving from anonymity on the Internet, it is discussed in our society and on the global scale as well,” Putin said.

“But the Internet is part of our life and is becoming a larger and a larger part of it. Everything that happens on the Internet should follow the common rules of human life, moral and legal rules.”

The president said the right balance should be found in the industry as well as in many other things. “Not to supress the freedom of expression and distribution of information on the Internet, but protect the society against possible negative factors,” he said.

“I hope the right balance will be found,” Putin said.

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