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By Alex Johnston Epoch Times Staff Created: November 1, 2012 Last Updated: November 1, 2012

A woman is using a computer at the Internet caf Time Online in downtown Moscow, Russia, on May 5, 2002. Russian Internet service providers are obliged to block websites with banned material under a law that went into effect on Nov. 1, 2012. (Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images)

A law allowing the Russian government to take websites offline went into effect Thursday. It was designed to target websites harmful to childrenbut also targets sites deemed extremist.

Critics accuse the government of creating a tool that could shut down opposition websites and would create a climate of widespread censorship in Russia.

When the bill was proposed in July, Wikipedias Russian language website blacked itself outto protest the measure. It passed in July and was signed by President Vladimir Putin. Court approval is not necessary to block a site.

Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borderssaid the Kremlin will likely misuse the law.

We are forced to conclude that no political will exists to resolve the laws contradictions and to eliminate those that pose threats to freedom, despite criticism of the law from many quarters, the group said in a statement.

The group said that Russia is looking to redefine the meaning of what treason means and is looking to increase penalties for blasphemy convictions.

Taken as a whole, the latest legislative initiatives in the Duma [Russian Parliament] give all the appearance of a concerted attack on freedom to disseminate information, it said.In each of these bills, imprecise language and vague definitions are far too open to interpretation. We call on members of parliament to revise their proposals in light of the fundamental right to freedom of information.

Some worry that authorities could plant banned material and content on opposition websites, creating a reason to shut down the sites, according to Radio Free Europe.

Link:
Russian Censorship Law Goes Online