Russia’s consumer rights watchdog has lashed out at Google and YouTube for hosting what it calls suicide instruction videos and neglecting possible harmful consequences. The organization is in legal action with YouTube over a blocked video.
"Google Russia and YouTube LLC express their position based
solely on a threat to the freedom of access to information on the
internet," watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said in a statement coming
after the first court hearing in the case of YouTube against the
body over blocked video content allegedly propagating suicide.
The video posted in January 2012 instructed how to create the most
realistic cut wrist make-up for Halloween. The Rospotrebnadzor
found the content to be suicide propaganda and blocked it. YouTube
LLC filed a lawsuit asking to remove the blockage.
The Rospotebnadzor also expressed concerns that web pages
containing ambiguous information which is hard to interpret are
sprouting all over the Russian internet.
As of today the watchdog has reviewed 1,309 websites that had been
reported to contain harmful content. In over 1,164 cases the
watchdog found enough grounds to block websites.
In more than 40 cases the YouTube videos were blocked over
containing information about ways to commit suicide or self-harm
propaganda
In November 2012, Russia introduced a new law, so-called ‘blacklist
law,’ aimed at the protection of children from harmful web content
and authorizing regulators to block access to data considered
“harmful to the health and development.”
Following the introduction of the legislation, access to YouTube in
Russia was briefly blocked. However, the embargo was soon lifted
and the authorities explained that it was a misunderstanding.
Rights advocates and some popular Russian websites have largely
criticized the law, saying it could lead to widespread censorship
on the web.
Russia has the highest teenage suicide rate in Europe,
Rospotrebnadzor reports. In recent years the numbers have
dramatically increased, by 35-37 per cent, it argues.