TO THE QUESTION OF LEGAL RESTRICTION OF FREEDOM IN VIRTUAL REALITY

Abstract

The steady development of information technology immerses masses of people in the virtual world. The impersonal virtual reality created by the Internet space gives a person a feeling of complete freedom, not limited by social norms and rules. The idea of absolute impunity in the virtual world leads to negative consequences that turn into real administrative misdemeanors and criminal offenses. As an example, the authors consider Internet calls for unauthorized rallies in defense of Alexei Navalny, which took place in Russia in january 2021 (the calls were distributed through the applications TikTok, Instagram, VKontakte, Telegram). The involvement of minors in various «death groups», primarily in the «Blue Whale» suicidal «game», which is implemented on the social network «Vkontakte» is also analyzed.
 The problem of human behavior in the virtual world is considered in the article through the prism of the relationship between law and freedom and the peculiarities of their implementation through modern network resources in a new digital system of relations. The authors argue that the virtual space, like the real world, is in dire need of strict legal regulation. The absence of legal restrictions on freedom on the Internet by the state can lead to tragic consequences.