Medvedev: 'Fair position' towards internet users

Russia should take a measured approach to policing the internet, president-elect Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday in a speech that may ease concerns about a crackdown on free speech in cyberspace.

Campaigners have said Russian authorities are trying to tighten regulation of the internet, a vibrant forum for political debate in a country where the mainstream traditional media is deferential to the Kremlin.

Medvedev is a protege of outgoing President Vladimir Putin and is expected to continue his policies, but analysts say he could adopt a more liberal style after he is sworn in as president on May 7.

Speaking at a forum devoted to the internet near Moscow, 42-year-old Medvedev addressed what he called “the delicate question of the relationship between freedom of speech and responsibility,” in cyberspace.

“The answer to this question is fairly simple: laws must be respected everywhere ... at the same time, the state should take a calm, fair position” towards internet users, he said.

Russian prosecutors have closed down several regional internet sites critical of the authorities, saying they did not have the proper registration.

A pro-Kremlin lawmaker has proposed requiring Russian Internet sites with more than 1 000 daily visitors to register as media outlets—a proposal that could make blogs subject to the same regulations as newspapers.

Medvedev has said he is an avid consumer of internet news, including from pro-opposition sites.

In his previous job as first deputy prime minister, he oversaw a programme to put every Russian school online.

He has promoted internet use as part of a programme to develop a knowledge-based economy and reduce Russia’s dependence on oil and gas exports.

Medvedev told the forum Russia had 40-million internet users out of a population of 142-million. - Reuters