Russian Deputies Back Fines For Clicking On 'Extremist' Content
Critics say the planned law, which has drawn rare criticism from across Russia's political spectrum, would stifle internet freedom.
Russian authorities already block access to thousands of websites accused of hosting "extremist" content.
The latest proposed legislation threatens fines of up to 5,000 rubles ($64) on anyone found to have deliberately searched for or gained access to material listed as extremist by the justice ministry.
More than 5,000 entries are on the list, including web pages, political slogans, books, artworks and music albums.
Among them are songs glorifying Ukraine, blog posts by feminist rock band Pussy Riot and information on the Wikipedia page for dynamite.
Deputies in the lower house State Duma backed the bill by 283 votes to 22 in its second reading.
It is not clear whether the bill has the support of the government.
The Kremlin said the proposal needed "more detailed explanations" to allay people's concerns.
"I am not familiar with the initiative by the deputies," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question from AFP.
The bill requires three readings and approval by Russia's upper house before President Vladimir Putin can sign it into law.
During Thursday's second reading, lawmaker Alexander Teterdinko of the governing United Russia party said the legislation would only affect those who "deliberately" search for extremist material.
"That is to say, if you Google something and material appears in the search results, but you do not click on it, do not read it, do not use it in any way... you will not fall under this article," he said.
Other lawmakers, however, expressed concern over the apparent lack of safeguards.
The bill was originally about tightening regulation over shipping clerks, but evolved as lawmakers inserted amendments.
Deputy State Duma Speaker Vladislav Davankov called components of the bill an "attack on the basic rights of citizens". Russia's internet safety tsar warned the legislation would stifle her department's work.
The bill would also ban advertising for virtual private networks (VPNs) and impose fines for transferring SIM cards to another person, both ways of browsing with more privacy.
Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of pro-Kremlin broadcaster Russia Today, said the legislation would make it impossible to investigate and expose extremist groups.
"I hope there will be amendments," she said on Telegram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
2 hours ago
- DW
Russia to fine people for searching for 'extremist' content – DW – 07/22/2025
The lower house of the Russian parliament approved legislation imposing fines on people searching online for content that the authorities deem "extremist." Protesters are calling the bill "something out of 1984." Russian lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill to fine internet users for searching online content that authorities consider "extremist." Unusually, the legislation has drawn criticism from both opposition activists and some pro-government figures. The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, approved the bill with 306 votes in favor and 67 against. The bill will now be sent to Russia's upper house, where it is unlikely to face major opposition. Russia's Ministry of Justice's list of extremist materials spans more than 500 pages and contains over 5,000 entries. These include songs that praise Ukraine and blog posts by the feminist rock band Pussy Riot. The legislation would impose fines of up to 5,000 rubles (€54 or $64) on anyone who searched for or gained access to content material on the list. It is still unclear how the bill would work in practice. The question of whether internet service providers or websites would be responsible for monitoring users' searches remains unanswered. Several activists and a journalist from the Russian newspaper were arrested for protesting against the bill outside the State Duma a few hours before the vote. Opposition politician and protest organizer Boris Nadezhdin compared the bill to "something out of 1984," referencing George Orwell's novel about a totalitarian regime. Duma spokesperson said the bill was aimed at "those trying to destroy and ruin Russia" by using the internet. The editor-in-chief of Russia Today, a Russian propaganda media outlet, said the bill would make it impossible to investigate and expose extremist groups.
Int'l Business Times
3 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Interpol Lifts Red Notice For Anti-whaling Campaigner Paul Watson
Global police organisation Interpol has lifted a red wanted notice requesting the arrest of Paul Watson, an anti-whaling activist and founder of the Sea Shepherd NGO, one of his lawyers told AFP on Tuesday. Interpol had issued the notice against Watson, known for radical tactics including confrontations with whaling ships at sea, at the request of Japan, but has now decided the measure was "disproportionate", lawyer William Julie said. A spokesperson for Interpol confirmed to AFP that the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF) had deleted the red notice. Watson, a 74-year-old Canadian-American, was arrested and detained in Greenland in July, 2024 on a 2012 Japanese warrant, which accused him of causing damage to a whaling ship and injuring a whaler. He was released in December after Denmark refused the Japanese extradition request over the 2010 clash with whalers. On December 20, he returned to France, where his children attend school, following a high-profile campaign in his support. "The decision to delete Mr Watson's red notice was made by the CCF -- an independent body tasked to ensure that the processing of personal data by Interpol is in compliance with its constitution and rules," the Interpol spokesperson said. "This is not a judgement on the merits of the case, or the events that occurred in 2010, but a decision based on Interpol's rules on the processing of data," the spokesperson added. "The CCF decision was made in light of new facts, including the refusal by the Kingdom of Denmark to extradite Mr Watson. This is in line with normal procedures." In a statement, Julie said that the CCF considered that the red notice "did not meet Interpol's standards, citing the disproportionate nature of the charges, Mr. Watson's supposed only indirect involvement (which is contested), the considerable passage of time since the alleged facts, Denmark's refusal to extradite him, and the fact that several other countries declined to act on Japan's arrest or extradition requests." He also said that the Commission pointed to the existence of "political elements" around the case. "Regarding potential motivations, the CCF remarked that the disproportionate nature of the red notice 'tends to highlight the strategic character of the case and its symbolic importance beyond its intrinsic criminal characteristics or pure law-enforcement interest'. "The Commission suggested this may indicate the presence of political elements supporting the case -- a point it makes subtly but significantly," Jolie said in the statement.
Int'l Business Times
3 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
American Who Moved His Family to Russia to Dodge 'Woke' US Policies Finds Himself On Front Lines in Ukraine: 'Thrown to the Wolves'
A Texas man who moved his family to Russia hoping to dodge what he called "woke" American policies has been sent to the front lines of the war in Ukraine. Derek Huffman, 46, planned to join the military in a non-combat role as a welder after moving to Russia earlier this year with his wife and three children. However, his wife said that he has since ended up on the front lines after after joining the Russian military to help speed up his track to citizenship, Euromaiden Press reported. In a now-deleted video to the family's YouTube page, where Huffman and his wife DeAnna post about their life living in Russia, DeAnna asked for prayers after revealing where her husband was told he was "going straight to the front lines" after completing limited training in Russian, according to the Daily Beast. "He feels like he's being thrown to the wolves right now, and he's kind of having to lean on faith, and that's what we're all doing," DeAnna said. The family previously shared a clip of Derek in his military attire from Father's Day, in which he shared he was hoping for a "vacation" soon. "I can't wait to see you, hopefully I get a vacation at some point and I get to go home and spend a couple of weeks with you," he said. "But man, you're on my mind 24/7 and just know that what I'm doing is important to me and important to our family. Just know I will do whatever it takes to be safe and to come home to you. Take care of each other." On their social media pages, the Huffman family has praised a program by American media personality Tim Kirby allowing Americans to move to the country. He previously called Russia "a country that respects family values" after claiming that "woke ideology" was taking over the U.S., as reported by the Daily Mail. Meanwhile, DeAnna shared that her family allegedly has not been paid yet for Derek's time in the military. Originally published on Latin Times
