information offence

Effective legal tools of information security  of an individual, society,  and state are essential for information society,  with  protection from misleading information being one of the issues.  Object.  The  research  aims  at  systematization  of  misleading  information  types. Distribution of misleading information is  dangerous for the society and,  therefore,  is  prohibited  by the Russian legislation.  Results.  The  author has singled out the major types of misleading information that is  prohibited  by  the Russian legislation:  misleading information  on environmental conditions, sanitary  and epidemiological conditions, environmental and technogenic catastrophes; information used  to manipulate  the market; information on placing orders for goods,  works,  services  for state and municipal needs;  information that violates  consumers rights;  information  that  induces  unfair  competition  including  misleading  and  unfair  advertising;  rumors  spread  as  reliable  information.  Conclusion.  Thus, the misleading information distribution ban  can be  found in a number of federal laws. Meanwhile,  the Russian legislation lacks  general norms of the misleading information distribution ban.  The author suggests  that the legal tools to curb the misleading information distribution must consist of the three components: stopping the offence;  holding an  offender liable; distribution (to the people interested) of reliable information.