Internet providers given month to block sites inappropriate for kids

The Russian Internet enters a new era on November 1 - when a law restricting online content comes into force.

Websites hosting material deemed harmful for children will be blocked and investigated by a special commission.Sites containing child pornography, instructions for using and making drugs, or popularizing suicide will be shut down immediately.In other cases, a court will decide if the website should be blocked.

Critics say blocking IP addresses that host a questionable site is too broad a measure, as it will lead to numerous legitimate sites being blocked too.

But Internet Service Providers are in favour as it’s cheaper to block sites than to install expensive filters.MTS, for example, says that new filters would cost it $51-million dollars.

The Communications Ministry was initially planning to publish a blacklist of sites.But now is has decided instead on general criteria for blocking sites.