Related video above: A look at how CNN geolocates and verifies social media footage out of Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin's creeping authoritarianism got a lot more overt on Friday when he signed a censorship bill into law making it impossible for news organizations to accurately report the news in or from Russia.

The law, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, makes it a crime to disseminate "fake" information about the invasion of Ukraine, with a penalty of up to 15 years in prison for anyone convicted.

The definition of "fake" is, of course, left up to the Russian government. The New York Times reported that the law, which could take effect as soon as Saturday, could make it illegal to merely refer to the Ukraine war as a war.

The law prompted urgent meetings inside news outlets on Friday and pushed them to make difficult decisions.

The BBC, bluntly saying that the law "appears to criminalize the process of independent journalism," said that it had no choice but to "temporarily suspend the work" of its journalists and staff in Russia as it assesses the "full implications of this unwelcome development."

CNN said the network "will stop broadcasting in Russia while we continue to evaluate the situation and our next steps moving forward."

ABC News and CBS News both said that their networks were temporarily refraining from broadcasting from Russia.

Reading between the lines, this means that international correspondents in Moscow are staying in the city, but are not appearing on TV for the time being.

Newswires and newspapers also expressed profound concern.

Bloomberg News said that it will suspend the work of its journalists inside Russia, with editor in chief John Micklethwait saying that the law "seems designed to turn any independent reporter into a criminal purely by association, makes it impossible to continue any semblance of normal journalism inside the country."

The Washington Post said it intends to "exercise caution while seeking clarity about how these reported restrictions would affect Washington Post correspondents and local staff."

The Wall Street Journal said that its "top priorities are the safety of our employees and covering this important story fairly and fully."

And Reuters said it is, too, assessing the situation.

While the full ramifications of the law remain unclear, it clearly marks a major escalation in Putin's efforts to cut back on press freedoms as he works to exert firmer control of the narrative around Ukraine.

It's also the culmination of years and years of work from Putin aimed at curbing reporting from Russia. Many journalists feared such a strict clampdown could occur one day, though they hoped it would not.

In addition to the harsh new law handicapping media outlets, the Russian media regulator, Roskomnadzor, blocked several western news sites on Friday.

"The number of independent media voices Russians can read and watch is dropping fast," CNN's Anna Cooban wrote. "Russian authorities have restricted access to news publications including BBC Russia, Radio Liberty, and Latvia-based Meduza, RIA Novosti reported on Friday."

Russia retaliates against Facebook, too

The Russian media regulator also said it would take action against Facebook and block the site — a move that would be a major blow to the concept of a free and open internet. In a statement, Roskomnadzor cited Facebook's moves in recent days to impose restrictions on Russia-controlled media outlets.

Nick Clegg, president of global affairs for Meta, FB's parent company, said the company "will continue to do everything" it can to continue providing services so that people can "safely and securely express themselves and organize for action."

At Friday's WH briefing, Jen Psaki addressed what she referred to as "concerning steps" Russia has taken in efforts to "cut off a range of information from their public."

Psaki noted it is "a pattern" of Russia's to "crack down on information in their country to reach the Russian people." She said the WH is "deeply concerned about this and concerned about the threat on freedom of speech in the country."

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – For the first time in its 18-year run, “The Bachelor” has named a black leading man.

The reality show announced Friday that 28-year-old Matt James will star as the bachelor for the 25^th season.

Good Morning America reports that James was originally cast as a suitor on Clare Crawley’s upcoming season of “The Bachelorette,” which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABC hopes to air Crawley’s season of “The Bachelorette” this fall, with James making his debut on “The Bachelor” afterwards in 2021.

GMA says James is a real estate broker, entrepreneur and community organization founder. The North Carolina native graduated from Wake Forest University, where he majored in economics and played football.

James also seems to be friends with former contestants Hannah Brown and Tyler Cameron, who both appear on his Instagram page.

The casting announcement comes after years of fans demanding diversity and just days after the franchise’s first black bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay, said she would cut ties with the show if a black bachelor was not cast, Variety reports.

CLEMENTS, Calif. —

A bar owner was arrested in connection with selling fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said Tuesday.

Luke Blehm, a spokesperson with ABC, told sister station KCRA the agency launched an undercover operation after receiving complaints that fake vaccine cards were being made at The Old Corner Saloon in Clements. Agents succeeded in purchasing several of these cards from the owner and a bartender in April.

At least eight sales to customers were made at the bar at around $20 a card, Blehm said. Finished and unfinished vaccine cards were found during the undercover investigation, along with paper cutters and laminators.

Blehm said bar owner Todd Anderson is facing charges of falsifying medical records with forging public seals, along with several counts of identity theft.

"Falsifying medical documents and also on the cards there are several agency seals on them, and that is illegal to falsify a seal of an agency or an entity, which makes that identify theft. And also there's a section — forgery section — with forging a seal," Blehm said.

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A Tuesday search of the saloon by ABC agents also turned up an unregistered handgun, Blehm said. ABC will also seek a criminal complaint against another employee from the saloon.

Watch the video above to learn more about this story.