Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he is against any ideological censorship, but considers the protection of children from harmful information a key task for the government.

“Protecting children from pornography, the propaganda of violence, cruelty and immoral behavior” is one of the most important duties of the authorities and society, Putin said, adding that he was “always against any ideological censorship’ that stifles creativity.

“The exact standards and responsibility, priorities and principles of the cultural policy, that’s what I am talking about,” the president said.

A federal law on "protecting children from information causing harm to their health and development," which has been widely criticized in Russian society, came into force on September 1.

Under the new law, scenes encouraging children to try drugs, tobacco or alcohol, or those justifying violence, must not be aired before 11 p.m. All media have to state the age of viewers for whom the content is intended.