In the social network closed page in support of Alexei Navalny – New News

In the social network closed page in support of Alexei Navalny – New News

Roscomnadzor demanded that the social networking site Facebook to block for Russian users group of supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a verdict which will be announced on January 15th. Prosecutor General’s Office found that it contains calls to unauthorized protests in Moscow. Experts point out that this is the first case of such a large block on which Facebook was forced under threat of closure across the network.

On request of the Prosecutor General to restrict access to the web page to Facebook, on which the Internet -Users discussed the People’s Assembly in support of opposition leader and founder of the Fund’s fight against corruption Alexei Navalny, became known on Saturday. As spokesman Vadim Roskomnadzora Ampelonsky, this requirement has been done in the framework came into force in February Law 398-FZ, which enables immediate blocking of sites containing unauthorized calls for mass actions.

At the same time blocking undergone page “One for all and all for one “, created to support Navalny on the social network. When you try to go it appears that the material is blocked “at the request of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation from 20.12.2014».

The group was created on Facebook on Friday for public support Navalny on the day of his sentencing. Last Friday, the prosecutor demanded to sentence opposition leader to 10 years in a penal colony, and his brother Oleg – to eight years in prison on charges of fraud, embezzlement and laundering of proceeds of the company “Yves Rocher East.” The verdict is expected to be announced on January 15th. In the evening of the same day opposition supporters are going to spend the people’s gathering in the city center.

Roscomnadzor could not lock on their own Facebook page, according to the Internet Ombudsman Dmitry Marinichev. “Since all of the pages to Facebook – dynamic and assembled robot, so close a specific page without the consent of Facebook is hardly possible,” – he said “NO”. However, in his opinion, the choice of the leadership of the social network was not. “All that is in the territory of the Russian Federation, subject to the laws of the Russian Federation. And none of us do not have any other options. Although in the case of Facebook, it seems to me, on the territory of Russia is the first time “- he said.

Before Facebook limits access to certain groups, but not to such a large, recalled the head of the project” Roskomsvoboda “Artem Kozlyuk . “For example, to lock a page promoting suicide. Now it is time for all locks the loudest event. Besides, it is a precedent in law 398-FZ – the so-called law on political censorship, which was blocked by several opposition websites. And if Facebook is not restricted access to a group of Russian IP-addresses, he would have risked being completely unavailable in Russia “, – said Mr. Kozlyuk.

However, the blocking of the desired effect, apparently, never produced. Until the moment of locking pages willingness to go out on the day of sentencing expressed 12 thousand. Man. After blocking immediately available analogues were created page, and as a result the number of likely participants in the rally Sunday evening was already 16 thousand. Man, another 60 thousand. Were invited to the event. “Restricting access to information, especially in the network space, completely pointless. And the case with Navalny is shown – just was created a similar group in Facebook. In addition, the lock only contributed to the dissemination of information about the event on January 15: media, Internet resources and bloggers immediately notified about it, “- said” NO “Mr. Kozlyuk.

Meanwhile, former US ambassador in Russia Michael McFaul called the fact of collaboration with Facebook Roscomnadzor “terrifying precedent” that would damage the image of a social network. In his blog, the American diplomat urged the leadership of Facebook immediately correct this error.