State Regulation Of Mass Communications Over Last Decade

Over the past decade, the world has changed significantly due to globalization and digitalization processes speeded up by mass media being a tool for realizing the rights of the population to freely seek, receive, transmit, produce and disseminate information. These rights are guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. However, recently the freedom of speech in the country has become the subject of numerous discussions among political scientists, lawyers, journalists and bloggers. The reason for this was the increased influence of state power on the media, which is expressed in the restriction of freedom of speech. This article discusses the state policy in the field of mass communication in Russia in connection with the adoption of several legislative acts aimed at tightening control over media content, especially network media platforms. The authors come to the conclusion that legislative measures in the field of Russian media aim to protect the interests of state power and the information security of the country, limit criticism of the authorities. This is confirmed by the fact that the Federal Service for Supervision of Mass Communications can block websites, social networks and instant messengers without a court decision. The authors also note that the existing law enforcement practice of control and supervisory bodies of state power leads to undesirable consequences in freedom of opinion, complicates the work of the opposition media, and this is contrary to the principles of democracy for the development of civil society.