Surveilling Speech Won’t Increase Birthrates
By Jessica Grose
President Vladimir Putin of Russia recently signed a bill into law that will fine anyone who is promoting “child-free propaganda.” Meant both to shore up “traditional values” and to increase Russia’s tanking birthrate, it stipulates that any individual found to be disseminating such “propaganda” may be subject to fines of up to about $4,000; considering the average monthly Russian salary as of 2023 was around $800, that’s a frightening potential penalty. Companies could be fined up to about $50,000...
The new law gives no clear examples of what “child-free propaganda” could mean. Would a single, childless Russian movie character enjoying his life be against the rules? Would a woman writing on a message board about struggling with postpartum depression be verboten? Would a parent making a video about how difficult it is to make ends meet on the aforementioned low monthly salary be penalized?
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/opinion/speech-surveillance.html
Russia lawmakers pass bill banning "child-free propaganda"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-lawmakers-pass-bill-banning-child-free-propaganda/
Vladimir Putin Declares War on ‘Child-Free Propaganda’
Russia will soon ban anything that could be perceived as against procreation.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/vladimir-putin-declares-war-on-child-free-propaganda/