Duma committee opposes controversial draft law that would ban kids from social networks and prohibit online pseudonyms

A State Duma committee has recommended the rejection of draft legislation that would prohibit children below the age of 14 from using online social networks.

Opposing the controversial draft law submitted by ultra-conservative deputy Vitaly Milonov, the Duma’s Information and Technology Committee said it took into account the opinions of legal experts in Russia’s Parliament, “the negative public response” to the legislation, and the “rather sharp criticism” from members of Milonov’s own political party, United Russia.

“We can hope that the author of this legislation will wait some time before reintroducing the initiative, and will hold wide consultations with the [Internet] community’s professionals, to determine if such measures are even needed,” said Leonid Levin, the committee's chairman.

Milonov submitted the draft law to the State Duma in April. The legislation would have banned children under the age of 14 from using online social networks, and required users of all ages to use their real names when registering accounts on such websites, prohibiting the use of pseudonyms.