freedom of the massmedia

Developing information technologies enhance production and distribution of messages and materials that contain various data and opinions. However, distributed information can both pursue positive goals and have a destructive impact on individual and social consciousness, be exploited to achieve publicly illegitimate and wrongful goals. Purpose. The author aims at studying and describing legal regime of information production and distribution stipulated by the Russian legislation. Results. The author investigates the subject matter of the constitutional right to produce and distribute information; gives the classification of legal means used to regulate information production and distribution; systematizes major limitations stipulated by the Russian legislation in the sphere. Conclusion. Legal regime of information production and distribution is a set of measures targeted at conditions for citizens, mass media, social organizations and public associations, political parties to exercise their rights to free information production and distribution within the stipulated legal range that ensures security of subjects of information activities.