The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 9) Regulations 2022

Trade: internet services

5.  In Part 5 (Trade), after Chapter 6 (other services relating to non-government controlled Ukrainian territory) insert—

“CHAPTER 6A Internet services

Preventing provision of internet services to or for the benefit of designated persons

54A.— (1) A person who provides a social media service must take reasonable steps to prevent content that is generated directly on the service, or uploaded to or shared on the service, by a designated person being encountered by a user of the service in the United Kingdom.

(2) A person who provides an internet access service must take reasonable steps to prevent a user of the service in the United Kingdom from accessing, by means of that service, an internet service provided by a designated person.

(3) A person who provides an application store through which an application for an internet service may be downloaded or otherwise accessed must take reasonable steps to prevent a user of the application store in the United Kingdom from downloading or otherwise accessing, by means of that application store, an internet service provided by a designated person.

(4) A person who fails to comply with the requirement in paragraph (1), paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) commits an offence.

(5) In this regulation—

“content” means anything communicated by means of an internet service, whether publicly or privately, including written material or messages, oral communications, photographs, videos, visual images, music and data of any description;

“designated person” means a person who is designated under regulation 5 (power to designate persons) for the purposes of this regulation;

“encounter”, in relation to content, means read, view, hear or otherwise experience content;

“internet access service” means a service that provides access to virtually all (or just some) of the end points of the internet;

“internet service” means a service that is made available by means of the internet;

“social media service” has the meaning given by section 43(3) of the Finance Act 2020(1).”.

(1)

2020 c. 14.