Russia is banning swearing.
Are you sh-----g us?!
Last month, the Russian parliament passed
a bill banning profanity from films, music
and other public displays of art or "cultural
events."
(Via BBC)
And on Monday, Vladimir Putin signed off on
the new law.
When it goes into effect July 1, CNN reports:
-- Movies with profanity won't be distributed
-- Copies of books, CDs and movies containing
swearing will only be sold in explicitly labeled
sealed packages
-- People caught swearing in public will be
fined up to $70 (U.S.)
-- Businesses will be fined as much as $1,400
and face months-long suspensions
-- Public officials only face a $40 fine
Just what counts as profanity will be determined
by a "panel of experts," and the definition
of what counts as a "public display" is pretty
broad.
Complex argues the law's loose language could
be used to limit even broad expressions of
public speech.
The Wall Street Journal reports the law is
made to look like a push to clean up Russia's
image and make everything more family-friendly.
But observers say in reality, it's part of
the country's continued attack on freedom
of speech — the new restrictions equate
bloggers with mainstream media, and they face
the same hefty fines.
But Animal New York says, this can't be enforceable,
right?
"It's not like the Kremlin has ever fined
newspapers for reporting on a gay person ('gay
propaganda'), blocked entire social media
networks for protest ('extremist') information,
put people in jail for dancing in a church
('hooliganism with the intent to incite religious
hatred') or tried to bring 'blasphemy' back."
Oh wait, it has done all of those things.
This new law comes about a year after the
country passed a similar one that fines media
outlets for using "vulgarities."
Back then, RT's Tim Kirby had to ask, just
what exactly is this accomplishing?
KIRBY: "So the government is basically saying
if some guy on TV guns down 20 people with
blood and limbs flying, that that is totally
OK for television ... unless they, God forbid,
swear while doing it."
Well, from America, I'm Brice Sander.
Have a great effing day.
