Moscow, Russia –Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially signed a new law that introduces financial penalties for internet users who deliberately search for or access digital content labeled as “extremist” by Russian authorities. This law, which many international observers and human rights activists have described as a major assault on internet freedom and freedom of expression in Russia, imposes fines of up to 5,000 rubles (approximately $64) on offenders. It marks a significant escalation in the Russian government’s increasing efforts to police thought, control access to information, and suppress dissenting voices online.
The legislation targets individuals who intentionally look for or engage with material included in the Russian Ministry of Justice’s official list of extremist content, a registry that currently holds more than 5,000 entries. The banned content includes songs that express support for Ukraine, blog posts by members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot, and websites that openly criticize President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government. By criminalizing online searches and visits to these platforms, the law expands Russia’s ongoing digital crackdown that intensified following its military invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In addition to punishing individuals for accessing banned content, the law also makes it illegal to advertise virtual private networks (VPNs), which are commonly used by Russian citizens to bypass state censorship and access websites that have been blocked by the government. The Kremlin has already restricted access to many Western platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and several independent news websites. With VPN ads now prohibited and the threat of financial penalties hanging over users, many fear that the law is designed to fully isolate Russians from alternative perspectives and global narratives.
Another aspect of the new law includes restrictions on SIM card ownership. It bans the transfer of SIM cards from one person to another, a regulation many digital rights advocates say is aimed at eliminating anonymous communications and tightening surveillance on mobile phone users. This move is expected to make it harder for journalists, opposition figures, and everyday citizens to communicate without fear of being tracked or targeted.
Despite rare opposition from two parliamentary groups, the bill received majority support in the lower house of Russia’s State Duma and quickly passed through the legislative process. Political analysts see the swift enactment of the law as a clear indication that the Russian government intends to further entrench authoritarian control over digital spaces and silence dissent under the guise of national security.
Opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who helped organize protests against the bill, strongly condemned the measure. He compared it to the fictional totalitarian regime in George Orwell’s classic novel 1984, stating that it represents an attempt to criminalize private thought and expression. “This law punishes thought crimes,” Nadezhdin told AFP, highlighting the growing fear among Russian citizens of expressing themselves online, even in private searches.
The signing of this law continues the pattern of digital repression that has defined Russian policy since the war in Ukraine began. As the Kremlin continues to curtail press freedom and online liberties, the global community watches with growing concern over the state of human rights and digital access in Russia. With this new legislation, President Putin has taken yet another step toward tightening the state’s grip on the internet and silencing independent thought within the country.