Video game developers face fines of up to 5 million for banned content

For the placement of prohibited and anti-Russian content in video games, it is proposed to introduce penalties similar to fines for the media. As Izvestia found out, such amendments to the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation are being prepared by Anatoly Vyborny, deputy chairman of the State Duma Security Committee from United Russia.

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Roskomnadzor suggested not labeling shooters and "ramblers", but supporting the domestic gaming industry and educating users.

"Online video games in the modern world are becoming tools of anti-Russian propaganda in the hands of Western politicians. Through such content, they incite hatred towards certain nations, including Russians, by imposing stereotypes, for example, that Nazism is good. Unfortunately, the legislator has not yet responded to this in any way. There is no direct ban on the dissemination of illegal, Russophobic, defamatory information about our country and citizens, and there is no punishment for this," the deputy explained to Izvestia.

According to him, State Duma deputies have repeatedly tried to regulate the field of video games.

"I consider it appropriate to impose penalties on those developers and distributors of video games who do not respect our country and adversely affect the younger generation. Such measures should be at least comparable with the responsibility that is currently provided for in Article 13.15 of the Administrative Code ("Abuse of freedom of the media")," he stressed.

According to this article, fines are provided for various types of crimes, the deputy noted. For example, for distributing information expressing obvious disrespect for society about the days of military glory and memorable dates of Russia, and publicly insulting the memory of defenders of the Fatherland, a penalty of 3 to 5 million rubles has been imposed on legal entities.

"By analogy, it is possible to provide for liability for distributors of video games for other crimes of the same article. For example, for posting information with hidden (and now AI—processed) inserts that affect people's subconsciousness and have a harmful effect on health, which is legally punishable by a fine of 400,000 to 1 million rubles with confiscation of the subject of an administrative offense," explained Anatoly Vyborny.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

To a new level: video game developers face fines of up to 5 million for banned content