New Law in Russia Criminalizes Access to Extremist Online Content Amidst Concerns of Censorship

On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin enacted a contentious piece of legislation that makes it illegal to access or search for online content categorized as “extremist.”

This law has faced criticism from both supporters of the Kremlin and opposition members, as it imposes fines of up to 5,000 rubles (approximately $64) for individuals who “knowingly” engage with or seek out forbidden materials.

The legislation does not clarify how such activities will be monitored, prompting legal experts to express concerns about the possibility of increased surveillance and the risk of misuse by law enforcement. The law is set to come into effect on September 1.

Yekaterina Mizulina, who leads the Kremlin-affiliated Safe Internet League and is a notable proponent of online censorship, expressed her concerns about the bill earlier this month. She cautioned that it might hinder the League’s operations, approximately 30% of which involve identifying extremist content and reporting it to the authorities.

Mizulina noted that the new law could potentially expose police officers to legal jeopardy if they access content as part of their official responsibilities.

Amnesty International, a non-governmental organization based in London, also spoke out against the legislation, labeling it “vague and excessively broad,” and warned that it allows for arbitrary enforcement.

On the same day, Putin also approved another law that prohibits the advertisement of VPN services, which have gained popularity in Russia over the last three years as authorities continue to block an increasing number of websites, including those of Instagram and news organizations like The Moscow Times.