Russian lawmakers have passed a new law introducing fines for those who search for “extremist content” online. [A violation is punishable by an administrative fine ranging from RUB 3,000 to RUB 5,000, about $35-50.]
The move has sparked concerns both from opposition figures and from pro-government voices, as the official list of what qualifies as “extremism” in Russia, compiled by the Ministry of Justice, includes over 5,000 items, most of which ordinary citizens are not even aware of.
For example, Meta, the company behind Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, is officially designated as an extremist organization, which makes online searches about those apps illegal. The same extremist label has been applied to the “LGBT movement.” However, the law offers no clear explanation of what specific content is prohibited. The slogan “Glory to Ukraine” has also been registered as extremist. Some books and songs are on the list, including a song featured in Alexei Balabanov’s film War, which is still allowed to be shown in Russia.
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Internet users are wondering how they are supposed to know which materials are considered extremist. Sergei Boyarsky, head of the Duma’s IT committee, posted a video on Telegram clarifying that “accidental exposure,” for example, hearing or seeing something unintentionally, will not be punished. However, “deliberate” searches are now punishable under the law.
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Investigative journalist Andrei Zakharov speculated that security agencies may use Russia’s System for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM) to monitor web traffic. He also warned that phones could be searched at border crossings, during home raids or even random stops on the street.
“The last scenario is the most disturbing,” Zakharov wrote on his Telegram channel.
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The law has also stirred debate among typically loyal Kremlin supporters. One of the most vocal critics is Yekaterina Mizulina, founder of the so-called Safe Internet League, which is known for reporting internet users, artists and others whose online activity deviates from the Kremlin’s agenda to the security services. She noted that her own work may now fall under the ban, as reporting illegal content requires first locating it.
“The most interesting thing is that, according to the bill, even the activities of Interior Ministry officials monitoring such information could also be deemed illegal. And any person who reports the discovery of such materials to law enforcement, for example, about Columbine groups, also risks getting fined,” Mizulina wrote on her Telegram channel.
Margarita Simonyan, the head of the infamous Russia Today, posed a similar question, surprising her followers by opposing the government initiative. She wrote on her Telegram channel, “how are we supposed to investigate and shame all the different extremist organizations like the Anti-Corruption Foundation, if we are banned from even reading them?”
