Russian Internet group concerned over cases against users for ‘likes’

We are convinced that the legislation and the way the law is enforced in practice should be changed Mail.ru

MOSCOW — The Russian company that owns the country’s most popular social media network on Monday expressed concern at the increasing number of internet users facing prosecution for liking and sharing content online.

“We see that in many regions of our country it is becoming popular to start criminal proceedings against (internet) users for likes and shares on social media,” Mail. ru, which is owned by billionaire Alisher Usmanov, said in a statement.

The group, which owns Russia’s most popular social network VK as well as the widely used Odnoklassniki, called for the country’s internet laws to be changed.

“Too often the actions of law enforcement agencies clearly do not correspond to the potential threat and their reaction to posts or memes are groundlessly harsh,” Mail.ru said.

“We are convinced that the legislation and the way the law is enforced in practice should be changed,” it added.

The group also called for an “amnesty” for “those who were unjustly convicted and serving time on such charges.”

The statement comes as a 23-year-old woman went on trial in Siberia over social media memes that prosecutors claim incited hatred and insulted religious believers.

Maria Motuznaya went on trial in Barnaul, the main city in the Siberian Altai region, on Monday for satirical memes she posted on VK. —