MOSCOW, Russia – Russia’s State Duma has passed a controversial bill that would fine internet users for deliberately searching for content deemed “extremist” by the government — a move that critics say marks a dangerous slide toward digital authoritarianism.
Lawmakers in the lower house of parliament voted 306 to 67 in favor of the bill on Tuesday, sending it to the Federation Council for approval.
If cleared by the upper house, the legislation will proceed to President Vladimir Putin for final signature into law.
Under the proposed law, individuals could face fines of up to 5,000 rubles (approximately $64) for knowingly searching for or accessing materials listed as extremist by the Ministry of Justice.
The database currently includes more than 5,000 entries, such as:
- Songs supporting Ukraine,
- Blog posts from feminist punk band Pussy Riot,
- Critical websites and publications targeting President Putin’s regime.
Opaque Enforcement Raises Concerns
It remains unclear how authorities plan to enforce the law, raising questions about whether internet service providers or platforms would be required to monitor user searches or browsing behavior.
Russia already blocks thousands of websites for allegedly hosting extremist content.
The new law would extend government reach to individual user behavior, rather than just publishers — a shift that civil society groups warn could criminalize online curiosity or research.
‘This Is Something Out of 1984’
The bill has drawn sharp criticism from across Russia’s fragmented political spectrum and human rights circles.
“This law punishes thought crimes,” said opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who staged a protest outside the Duma on Tuesday. “It’s something straight out of Orwell’s 1984.”
Several demonstrators, including a journalist from Kommersant, were arrested for protesting against the bill before the vote.
Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin defended the bill, saying it targets those “trying to destroy and ruin Russia” through online platforms.
Critics: Law Will Backfire, Endanger Research
Even pro-government figures have raised alarm. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of state-backed Russia Today, said the bill could hinder legitimate efforts to investigate extremist threats.
“This law would make it impossible for journalists or law enforcement to research extremist networks,” she said.
More Than Extremist Content in the Crosshairs
In addition to targeting extremist searches, the bill includes other restrictive provisions:
- Banning advertisements for VPNs, which Russians commonly use to bypass censorship,
- Imposing fines for SIM card transfers, a common method to maintain online anonymity.
The legislation originated as a bill on shipping logistics, but lawmakers reportedly inserted amendments in secret before journalists uncovered them — raising transparency concerns.
Chilling Effect on Information Access
If signed into law, this measure would cement Russia’s digital repression strategy, expanding the state’s authority to police not just what is published — but what people privately search for.
Digital rights advocates say it’s a step toward criminalizing curiosity, eroding freedom of information, and encouraging self-censorship in the world’s largest country by landmass.
