The Internet, which is often called the World Wide Web, was considered exotic several years ago. Now, a huge number of people simply can not imagine life without it. They receive a variety of information via the Internet, communicate in a variety of forums, and maintain their own blogs. With the help of online magazines, news and comments are spreading at a tremendous speed among a significant number of people. Without exaggeration, bloggers have become a real and very impressive force.
The Internet has not only positive, but also negative aspects. Some users of the World Wide Web abuse its capabilities by posting empty, meaningless comments (the so-called flame), or even offend, provoke other users. This behavior is called trolling. Even worse, when various bloggers publish unverified, erroneous, and even frankly libelous information, the consequences of which can be very sad. Unfortunately, there are many examples of this. Therefore, in the light of recent events, when slander was again considered a criminal offense, a reasonable question arose: what about slander spread through the Internet? What rules should generally apply on the World Wide Web (at least in Russia)?
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry A. Medvedev recently outlined five principles that should be used to build the Internet.
1st principle. Internet should be free. That is, the introduction of strict censorship, which the Russian opposition fears, is out of the question.
2nd principle. It is necessary to develop understandable and clear rules that should guide every Internet user. That is, it is necessary to observe the "golden mean": on the one hand, to prevent anarchy and permissiveness; on the other hand, avoid unnecessary complication. From the point of view of D.A. Medvedev, this will not be easy to achieve, but this must be sought.
3rd principle. All the work of the Internet should be aimed at ensuring that any person can get the information he needs, but at the same time be protected from malicious content on sites. For example, those who promote pedophilia, drug addiction, national or religious hatred, etc.
4th principle. On the Internet, copyright laws must be strictly adhered to.
5th principle. It is necessary to deal with all kinds of violations on the Internet only by legal means, in strict accordance with applicable law and generally accepted international practice.
