Russian Wikipedia shuts down site to protest bill

Published July 10, 2012 12:26pm ET



MOSCOW (AP) — Wikipedia on Tuesday shut down its Russian-language site for 24 hours to protest a bill that would give the Russian government sweeping powers to blacklist certain sites, the latest in a flurry of legislation that appears aimed at neutering a growing opposition movement that has protested President Vladimir Putin’s rule.

Lawmakers say the bill, which is to be reviewed in parliament Tuesday, is designed to protect children. Supporters say it enables the government to block sites that show child pornography, promote teen suicide, or spread information about drugs. But critics argue it gives too wide a scope for the government to subjectively select which sites to blacklist.

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