Russian lawmakers approve fines for clicking on ‘extremist’ content
New Russian Law Would Penalise “Extremist” Searches
Deputies in the State Duma passed a bill that would treat anyone who deliberately searches for content labelled by the Justice Ministry as “extremist” as if it were a criminal offence. The proposal could result in fines of up to 5,000 rubles (about $64), and it could broaden the already‑wide list that blocks thousands of websites across the country.
What the bill covers
- More than five thousand entries appear on the Ministry’s list, including web pages, political slogans, books, artwork, and music albums.
- Among the items are:
- “Songs glorifying Ukraine”
- “Blog posts by the feminist rock band Pussy Riot”
- “Information on the Wikipedia page for dynamite”
Voting outcome
The lower house approved the text by 283 votes to 22 on its second reading. The bill must still undergo a third reading, be ratified by the upper house, and receive the President’s signature before it becomes law.
Government reaction
The Kremlin said the proposal needed “more detailed explanations” to reassure the public. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that he was “not familiar with the initiative by the deputies.”
Legal safeguards debate
- Lawmakers have argued that the bill would only target those who “deliberately” seek extremist material. For example, “if you Google something and material appears in the search results, but you do not click on it, do not read it, you will not fall under this article,” said Alexander Teterdinko of the ruling United Russia party.
- Opponents worry that the text lacks protection for individuals who come across extremist content accidentally.
- Deputy State Duma Speaker Vladislav Davankov called the draft an “attack on the basic rights of citizens.” Russia’s internet safety tsar warned that the legislation could restrict her department’s work.
- Additional provisions would ban advertising for virtual private networks (VPNs) and impose fines for transferring SIM cards to another person, both of which are methods that provide users with more privacy.
- Editor‑in‑chief Margarita Simonyan of the pro‑Kremlin broadcaster Russia Today said the legislation would make it impossible to investigate and expose extremist groups. She expressed hope that the bill would be amended.
Future steps
After the second reading, the bill will advance to the third reading. If approved, it will move to the upper house. The final hurdle will be presentation to President Vladimir Putin for signing. Until then, the law remains a subject of intense debate among Russia’s political and civil‑society circles.
