Moscow, August 1 (H.S.): President Vladimir Putin signed a bill criminalizing the search for online extremist content on Thursday, imposing fines up to 5,000 rubles (around $64). This law, effective September 1, follows parliamentary approval and is seen as a move to increase government control over the internet. It specifies that intentionally searching for or accessing content labeled as 'extremist' could lead to penalties, although the monitoring mechanisms for tracking such searches remain unclear.

Many Russians use VPNs to reach blocked sites, prompting the signing of an additional bill banning VPN advertisements. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, online censorship and media restrictions have intensified to stifle dissenting voices. These legislative changes, in light of Russia’s broad definition of extremism, suggest potential for significant repercussions on internet freedom in the country.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar