{
  "id": 188,
  "slug": "2019-russia-fake-news-disrespect-law",
  "title": "Russia: new laws penalize online \"fake news\" and \"disrespecting authorities\"",
  "occurred_on": "2019-03-07",
  "occurred_on_precision": "day",
  "ended_on": null,
  "jurisdiction": "RU",
  "country": "RU",
  "continent": "europe",
  "level": "national",
  "type": null,
  "tactic_primary": "disinformation_labeling",
  "leader_slug": "vladimir-putin",
  "issue_of_the_day": "Not stated in the sources reviewed.",
  "outcome": "sustained",
  "outcome_on": "2019-03-07",
  "outcome_note": "The laws were enacted and were later expanded in March 2022 to include prison terms of up to 15 years for wartime 'fakes.'",
  "granularity": "granular",
  "era": "2010s",
  "summary": "Russia's parliament passed laws letting courts jail and fine people, including journalists, for posting information the government alone judges to be false, or for statements found to disrespect officials or state symbols online.{c:684}{c:685}{c:686}",
  "what_happened": "On March 7, 2019, Russia's State Duma passed legislation permitting courts to jail and fine people who use the internet to spread what the law calls \"fake news\" or to disrespect government officials and state symbols, including President Vladimir Putin. Under the fake-news provisions, individuals, including journalists, could be fined up to 100,000 rubles, and companies up to 500,000 rubles, for posting unverified information that authorities determine threatens someone's life, health or property, or threatens mass public disorder. Separately, people found guilty of posting what courts call indecent statements about the government could face up to 15 days in administrative detention, with fines rising to 200,000 rubles and repeat violations carrying additional jail time. CPJ said the legislation was clearly aimed at tightening state control over independent media and pressuring journalists into restraining their own reporting.{c:684}{c:685}{c:686}\n\nSustained; the laws remained in force and were later expanded during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.{c:684}{c:685}{c:686}",
  "stated_justification": "Not stated in the sources reviewed.{c:684}{c:685}{c:686}",
  "effect_on_reporting": "The law gave authorities a standing legal tool to fine or briefly jail journalists and ordinary internet users over reporting or commentary the government alone determined to be false or disrespectful, without a specific factual dispute needing to be argued in court beforehand.{c:686}",
  "unknowns": "The sources reviewed do not report how many people were fined or jailed under the law in its first year.",
  "status": "historical",
  "status_updated_on": "2026-09-22",
  "external_ids": {},
  "illustration_key": null,
  "pub_state": "published",
  "published_at": "2026-09-23T01:36:07Z",
  "reviewed_on": "2026-09-22",
  "next_review_on": "2026-12-22",
  "revision": 5,
  "created_at": "2026-09-23T01:36:03Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-09-23T02:23:12Z",
  "stage": "pressure",
  "ladder_note": "Russia's parliament created fines and jail terms for online posts that authorities alone judge false or disrespectful of officials; no enacted United States law imposes jail time for calling an official statement false.",
  "country_name": "Russia",
  "tactics": [
    "disinformation_labeling"
  ],
  "leader": {
    "slug": "vladimir-putin",
    "name": "Vladimir Putin",
    "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin"
  },
  "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2019-russia-fake-news-disrespect-law",
  "page_meta": {
    "published": "2026-09-23T01:36:07Z",
    "reviewed": "2026-09-22",
    "sources": 3,
    "status": "historical",
    "statusAsOf": "2026-09-22",
    "unknowns": "The sources reviewed do not report how many people were fined or jailed under the law in its first year."
  },
  "actors": [
    {
      "slug": "vladimir-putin",
      "name": "Vladimir Putin",
      "kind": "person",
      "role": "other",
      "role_at_time": null,
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/actors/vladimir-putin"
    }
  ],
  "outlets": [],
  "journalists": [],
  "cases": [],
  "related": [],
  "events": [],
  "claims": [
    {
      "id": 684,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 188,
      "field": "action",
      "value": "Fake news fines up to 100,000 rubles for individuals",
      "statement": "Penalty structure under the new fake-news provision.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 402,
      "evidence_quote": "people found guilty of publishing \"indecent\" posts online...would face up to 15 days in administrative detention. Individuals, including journalists, who post \"fake news\" could be hit with fines of up to 100,000 rubles (more than $1,500)",
      "evidence_date": "2019-03-07",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-22",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "seed-2026-09-22",
      "created_at": "2026-09-23T01:36:05Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 402,
        "url": "https://cpj.org/2019/03/russia-advances-legislation-on-fake-news-and-disre/",
        "final_url": "https://cpj.org/2019/03/russia-advances-legislation-on-fake-news-and-disre/",
        "title": "Russia advances legislation on 'fake news' and 'disrespecting authorities'",
        "publisher": "Committee to Protect Journalists",
        "published_on": "2019-03-07",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/684"
    },
    {
      "id": 685,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 188,
      "field": "action",
      "value": "Fake news defined as unverified information seen as threatening",
      "statement": "The law's definition of what counts as fake news.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 402,
      "evidence_quote": "\"fake news\" as any unverified information that \"threatens someone's life and (or) their health or property, or threatens mass public disorder or danger...\"",
      "evidence_date": "2019-03-07",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-22",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "seed-2026-09-22",
      "created_at": "2026-09-23T01:36:05Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 402,
        "url": "https://cpj.org/2019/03/russia-advances-legislation-on-fake-news-and-disre/",
        "final_url": "https://cpj.org/2019/03/russia-advances-legislation-on-fake-news-and-disre/",
        "title": "Russia advances legislation on 'fake news' and 'disrespecting authorities'",
        "publisher": "Committee to Protect Journalists",
        "published_on": "2019-03-07",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/685"
    },
    {
      "id": 686,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 188,
      "field": "effect_on_reporting",
      "value": "CPJ says the law is aimed at self-censorship",
      "statement": "CPJ's assessment of the legislation's intent.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 402,
      "evidence_quote": "We are extremely troubled by the legislation that cleared Russia's State Duma today, which is clearly aimed at tightening state control over independent media and intimidating journalists into self-censorship,",
      "evidence_date": "2019-03-07",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-22",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "seed-2026-09-22",
      "created_at": "2026-09-23T01:36:06Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 402,
        "url": "https://cpj.org/2019/03/russia-advances-legislation-on-fake-news-and-disre/",
        "final_url": "https://cpj.org/2019/03/russia-advances-legislation-on-fake-news-and-disre/",
        "title": "Russia advances legislation on 'fake news' and 'disrespecting authorities'",
        "publisher": "Committee to Protect Journalists",
        "published_on": "2019-03-07",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/686"
    },
    {
      "id": 725,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 188,
      "field": "action",
      "value": "NPR: prosecutors can direct sites blocked",
      "statement": "NPR reported that Russia's new rules let prosecutors refer complaints about material insulting officials to the government, which could then block the websites publishing it.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 481,
      "evidence_quote": "The new rules allow prosecutors to direct complaints about material considered insulting to Russian officials to the government, which can then block websites publishing the information.",
      "evidence_date": "2019-03-18",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-22",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "v3-second-sources-2026-09-22",
      "created_at": "2026-09-23T02:23:10Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 481,
        "url": "https://www.npr.org/2019/03/18/704600310/russia-criminalizes-the-spread-of-online-news-which-disrespects-the-government",
        "final_url": "https://www.npr.org/2019/03/18/704600310/russia-criminalizes-the-spread-of-online-news-which-disrespects-the-government",
        "title": "Russia Criminalizes The Spread Of Online News Which 'Disrespects' The Government",
        "publisher": "NPR",
        "published_on": "2019-03-18",
        "link_state": "unchecked",
        "link_state_since": null,
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/725"
    },
    {
      "id": 726,
      "subject_type": "incident",
      "subject_id": 188,
      "field": "action",
      "value": "Duma passes disrespect and fake-news bills",
      "statement": "The Moscow Times reported that Russian lawmakers passed a package of bills to punish internet users and journalists for disrespecting the authorities or spreading fake news.",
      "attribution": null,
      "source_id": 482,
      "evidence_quote": "Russian lawmakers pushed through a package of bills Thursday seeking to punish internet users and journalists for disrespecting the authorities and spreading fake news.",
      "evidence_date": "2019-03-07",
      "method": "outlet_report",
      "verified_at": "2026-09-22",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "status": "current",
      "supersedes_id": null,
      "superseded_by": null,
      "supersede_reason": null,
      "batch_label": "v3-second-sources-2026-09-22",
      "created_at": "2026-09-23T02:23:11Z",
      "source": {
        "id": 482,
        "url": "https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/03/07/russia-passes-legislation-banning-disrespect-of-authorities-and-fake-news-a64742",
        "final_url": "https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/03/07/russia-passes-legislation-banning-disrespect-of-authorities-and-fake-news-a64742",
        "title": "Russia Passes Legislation Banning 'Disrespect' of Authorities and 'Fake News'",
        "publisher": "The Moscow Times",
        "published_on": "2019-03-07",
        "link_state": "live",
        "link_state_since": "2026-09-23T02:35:35Z",
        "wayback_url": null,
        "wayback_saved_at": null
      },
      "url": "https://thewaronnews.com/claims/726"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": 402,
      "url": "https://cpj.org/2019/03/russia-advances-legislation-on-fake-news-and-disre/",
      "final_url": "https://cpj.org/2019/03/russia-advances-legislation-on-fake-news-and-disre/",
      "title": "Russia advances legislation on 'fake news' and 'disrespecting authorities'",
      "publisher": "Committee to Protect Journalists",
      "published_on": "2019-03-07",
      "link_state": "live",
      "link_state_since": "2026-09-22T12:00:00Z",
      "wayback_url": null,
      "wayback_saved_at": null
    },
    {
      "id": 481,
      "url": "https://www.npr.org/2019/03/18/704600310/russia-criminalizes-the-spread-of-online-news-which-disrespects-the-government",
      "final_url": "https://www.npr.org/2019/03/18/704600310/russia-criminalizes-the-spread-of-online-news-which-disrespects-the-government",
      "title": "Russia Criminalizes The Spread Of Online News Which 'Disrespects' The Government",
      "publisher": "NPR",
      "published_on": "2019-03-18",
      "link_state": "unchecked",
      "link_state_since": null,
      "wayback_url": null,
      "wayback_saved_at": null
    },
    {
      "id": 482,
      "url": "https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/03/07/russia-passes-legislation-banning-disrespect-of-authorities-and-fake-news-a64742",
      "final_url": "https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/03/07/russia-passes-legislation-banning-disrespect-of-authorities-and-fake-news-a64742",
      "title": "Russia Passes Legislation Banning 'Disrespect' of Authorities and 'Fake News'",
      "publisher": "The Moscow Times",
      "published_on": "2019-03-07",
      "link_state": "live",
      "link_state_since": "2026-09-23T02:35:35Z",
      "wayback_url": null,
      "wayback_saved_at": null
    }
  ],
  "revisions_url": "https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2019-russia-fake-news-disrespect-law/revisions",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
  },
  "cite_as": "Russia: new laws penalize online \"fake news\" and \"disrespecting authorities\". The War On News, thewaronnews.com. https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2019-russia-fake-news-disrespect-law. Retrieved 2026-09-23."
}