Russian MPs approve anti-terror ‘Big Brother’ measures

Russia’s lower house of parliament on Friday approved a raft of anti-terror measures that the ­opposition called the “Big Brother” law, which may also cost internet companies billions to store mandated users’ data.

In the last session ahead of parliamentary elections in ­September, lawmakers had to rush through debate so quickly that two normally slavish parties voted against both bills after being given only a few hours to read them.

Despite the parties’ objections, the Duma approved legislation that criminalises failure to report some crimes, lowers the age of criminal responsibility to 14 for a number of offences, and foresees seven years in jail for abetting terrorism online.

A second bill which caused an even bigger stir significantly ­increases the security service’s surveillance prerogatives, with communication providers obliged to store users’ calls, messages and data for six months and hand them to “relevant government agencies” when requested.

Social networks also have to store such information for six months, according to the bill, which still has to be approved by the upper house of parliament and signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.