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Russia Approves Bill to Fine Users for Searching 'Extremist' Content

It now heads to the Federation Council for approval before reaching President Putin for signature.

Police detain an activist during a picket against internet limitations in front of The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, prior to consider the third and final reading of a bill, criminalising the search of "extremist materials" in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
An activist holds a poster reading "For Russia without censorship. Orwell wrote a dystopia, not an instruction manual" during a picket against internet limitations in front of The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, prior to consider the third and final reading of a bill, criminalising the search of "extremist materials" in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Police detain an activist during a picket against internet limitations in front of The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, prior to consider the third and final reading of a bill, criminalising the search of "extremist materials" in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
Russian Politician Boris Nadezhdin, right, gestures while speaking to Vladislav Davankov, deputy Chairman of the State Duma in front of The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament prior a session to consider the third and final reading a bill, criminalising the search of "extremist materials" in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Overview

  • The law levies fines up to 5,000 rubles on individuals who intentionally search for or access content listed as extremist.
  • The Justice Ministry’s registry contains more than 5,000 items ranging from opposition posts and Pussy Riot writings to LGBT rights materials and songs praising Ukraine.
  • Advertising for virtual private network services will be prohibited and VPN use may be treated as an aggravating factor in related investigations.
  • Details on how authorities will detect violators remain undefined, with observers citing internet provider data and random checks of search histories as possible methods.
  • Critics from opposition figures to some pro-Kremlin voices warn the measure will chill free expression and amount to punishment for ‘thought crimes.’