Russia Approves Fines for 'Extremist' Searches and VPN Promotion, Toughening Internet Crackdown

Russia's State Duma approved new fines for searching for "extremist" content online, including through VPNs, and for VPN providers that enable access to such resources. Individuals could face fines of up to 5,000 rubles ($64) and VPN providers up to 500,000 rubles for repeat violations. The changes are set to take effect in September and mark a shift towards penalizing Russians for accessing content rather than creating or promoting it.

Russia's State Duma has approved new fines for individuals found to be searching for content deemed "extremist" online, including through the use of virtual private networks (VPNs). The amendments, published on the State Duma's website, introduce fines of up to 5,000 rubles ($64) for individuals and up to 500,000 rubles ($6,500) for VPN providers that enable access to such content or fail to cooperate with Russian regulators. The changes are set to take effect in September and mark a significant shift in Russia's internet censorship policies.

The new regulations follow a long-running crackdown on the internet by the Russian government. The State Duma defines "extremist" content based on a list maintained by the Ministry of Justice, which includes entities such as LGBTQ organizations, human rights groups, and certain songs with lyrics critical of the government or the war in Ukraine. The list has grown to include over 100 organizations.

VPN providers that advertise their services or fail to block access to extremist content could face fines of up to 500,000 rubles for repeat violations. The use of VPNs is not prohibited in Russia, but accessing outlawed content through them is illegal. Prominent Kremlin allies, such as Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the state-funded broadcaster RT, have questioned the new regulations, stating that they could hinder investigative journalism.

The new amendments come as Russia has been tightening its internet censorship policies, with the government blocking nearly 800,000 web pages in 2024 alone. The changes follow similar legislation passed in neighboring Belarus, which has been used to justify the prosecution of government critics.

The new fines could have significant implications for internet users in Russia, who may face penalties for merely accessing content rather than creating or promoting it. Critics argue that the vague language of the amendments creates potential for misuse and could lead to mass punishment of users.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-17/russia-approves-fines-for-extremist-searches-and-vpn-promotion
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/07/17/russia-internet-censorship/