Yurchyshyn on regulation of social networks: we are waiting for the expert examination of the bill by the Council of Er

This was reported by the people's deputy, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech Yaroslav Yurchyshyn in a comment to Ukrinform.

“At the moment, as before, we are actively working in the Eurasian direction to regulate social networks, especially Telegram. As far as I know, our deputy, who heads the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Issues, Nikita Poturaev, sent a draft law on the regulation of social networks to the Council of Europe for examination. The results of this examination should be received in the coming days, and we will be able to move on,” Yurchyshyn noted.

He explained that if Ukraine adopts laws to regulate social networks (including additional restrictions or fines, etc.), “social networks can completely ignore Ukrainian decisions, since we do not represent a significant market for them.”

“Therefore, we should synchronize with the European Community on this issue. We are currently engaged in difficult negotiations to ensure that the Digital Services Act, which is in force in European countries and needs to be finalized, is extended to EU candidate countries. We and Moldova are very interested in this,” the chairman of the parliamentary committee said.

He specified that in Ukraine, theoretically, there is a mechanism for sanctions against social networks, “but we cannot expect that government agencies will apply this mechanism at the official level, given that more than 70% of users, including government leaders, use Telegram, so we strive to synchronize with Eure as much as possible.”

“Nevertheless, there are also critical situations that serve as another argument for imposing sanctions against Telegram. Telegram is used to recruit arsonists of military equipment and those who organize terrorist attacks near military assembly centers or other troop concentration sites. Of course, the Security Service, the Main Intelligence Directorate and all our special services constantly inform the National Security and Defense Council about the growing threat. Therefore, I do not rule out that the situation may worsen so much that certain sanctions will be imposed,” Yurchyshyn emphasized.

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He added that the Ukrainian side is actively cooperating with European partners on issues of legislation on regulation of social networks, so that after the adaptation of EU rules in Ukraine, they will apply to both our country and the EU. “This will allow us to use the EU market to protect our interests,” the deputy is confident.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Security Service of Ukraine called on citizens to report attempts at recruitment by Russian special services in the chatbot “Find the FSB”.