Russia’s upper house of parliament has approved a new law that will impose fines on individuals who deliberately search for online content labeled “extremist” by the government. This move marks another step in the Kremlin’s increasing efforts to censor the internet and expand state control over digital activity. African News reports that the legislation, which passed the lower house earlier this week, is now expected to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. Under the new rules, intentionally searching for or accessing such materials online could lead to fines of up to $64. Valentin

Russia’s upper house of parliament has approved a new law that will impose fines on individuals who deliberately search for online content labeled “extremist” by the government. This move marks another step in the Kremlin’s increasing efforts to censor the internet and expand state control over digital activity. African News reports that the legislation, which passed the lower house earlier this week, is now expected to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. Under the new rules, intentionally searching for or accessing such materials online could lead to fines of up to $64. Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the Federation Council, defended the bill, claiming it would not target ordinary citizens. “This law will never affect a single conscientious citizen,” she said. “It is aimed at ensuring the security of the country and the fight against extremism.” However, the government’s definition of “extremism” is notoriously broad. Groups like the Anti-Corruption Foundation founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and even the “international LGBT movement” are officially classified as extremist. While the bill has passed both chambers of parliament, questions remain about how enforcement will work. Officials have not explained how authorities would detect who is searching for banned content or distinguish them from general internet users. Lawmakers maintain that the law targets only those who deliberately seek out illegal materials, but critics worry it could be used to justify further crackdowns on dissent and free expression. In recent years, and especially since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the government has intensified its campaign against independent media and opposition voices. Dozens of news outlets have been shut down or declared “foreign agents,” and many activists have been prosecuted for their online activities. Russians commonly use VPNs to access restricted websites, but authorities have stepped up efforts to block those tools as well. The state communications regulator has been employing advanced technologies to detect and disable specific VPN protocols. Once signed by President Putin, this law will reinforce Russia’s widening regime of digital censorship and is expected to have a chilling effect on online activity across the country.

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