The Obscure Content Filtering Obligations of the Council Regulation Imposing Sanctions on Russia: A Step Too Far?

Research output: Non-textual / digital / web - outputsWeb publication/siteAcademic

Abstract

On 1 March 2022, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2022/350 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine (hereinafter ‘the Regulation’) aimed at the suspension of two Russian state-owned media outlets, Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik. This restrictive measure appears reasonable in light of the current events: both of these Kremlin-backed outlets have repeatedly disseminated harmful and manipulative content condoning and justifying Russia’s military activities. At the same time, the Regulation spurred some compelling dilemmas. Does it apply to search results and third-party content on social media platforms? To what extent is the Commission entitled to give meaning to the Regulation? Can it enforce restrictions that are not explicitly envisioned therein? And, most importantly, what long-lasting implications could the said measures have for freedom of expression safeguarded under Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU? This blogpost seeks to reflect on these issues by examining the Regulation and its remarkable interpretation by the Commission.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherEU Law Live
EditionOp-Ed
Media of outputBlog
Publication statusPublished - 17 Mar 2022

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