Duma Advances Two Bills Tightening Rules for Online Content, Logins and Algorithms

Overview

• On December 18, one draft was formally filed to fine platforms for distributing films deemed to undermine traditional values, while a separate bill on foreign user logins and recommendation systems passed its first reading.
• Under the content draft, audiovisual services and social networks face fines for distribution: up to 5,000 rubles for individuals, 100,000 for officials and 700,000 for companies, rising on repeat to 150,000, 400,000 and 3 million respectively.
• Failure to comply with a Roskomnadzor order to remove such content would trigger separate penalties: up to 20,000 rubles for individuals, 200,000 for officials and 1 million for companies, increasing on repeat to 300,000, 800,000 and 5 million.
• Enforcement would involve the Culture Ministry initiating cases, Roskomnadzor acting when content is not removed and district courts hearing cases, with no liability if material is taken down within 24 hours after a distribution certificate is revoked, a one‑year limitation period and a proposed start date of March 1, 2026 with no retroactive penalties.
• The second bill would fine site owners for authorizing Russian users via foreign services and for opaque or unlawful use of recommendation technologies, with initial fines up to 20,000 rubles for individuals, 50,000 for officials and 700,000 for companies, transparency violations up to 70,000 for companies and orders to halt recommendation-based dissemination up to 1.4 million rising to 2.8 million on repeat.