Movie theaters and libraries will be able to check visitors’ age

The laws "On the Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development" and "On Librarianship" are proposed to be supplemented with new clauses. The innovations will affect movie theaters and libraries.

The demonstration of information products prohibited for children at a particular entertainment event is preceded by an audio message about the inadmissibility or restriction of the presence of minors of the corresponding age categories, according to the current legislation. But according to the authors of the initiative – deputies of the Supreme Council Committee on Education, Public Associations and the Media – this norm is not enough to properly protect children. Parliamentarians Igor Buga, Andrei Safonov and Pavel Shinkaryuk proposed expanding the provisions of the law. If the bill is adopted, the organizer of a spectacular event where content prohibited for children is shown will be obliged to not allow minors. For example, a cashier at a movie theater or a person controlling access to a film screening will have the right to demand a document to establish the age of a visitor.

The parliamentarians propose to grant the same rights and obligations to employees of public libraries. The corresponding change will be enshrined in the law "On Librarianship".

It will be prohibited to include fragments with information harmful to children in film trailers in addition.

Expanding the list of information products prohibited for distribution among children was proposed by the deputies. The list will include information containing images or descriptions of sexual violence.

The law-in-draft was considered in the course of the relevant parliamentary committee meeting. The law-in-draft will be recommended by the deputies for adoption in the first reading in the course of the Supreme Council plenary session.