Putin signs law penalising online searches for ‘extremist’ content with $81 fine
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The new law in Russia also penalises online searches for feminist rock bank Pussy Riot.
PHOTO: AFP
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MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 31 put his signature to a law that fines internet users who search for web pages, books, artwork or music albums that the authorities deem “extremist”.
The law, slammed by critics as another dangerous attack on freedom of thought and expression in Russia, introduces fines of up to 5,000 rubles (S$81) on anyone found to have deliberately searched for, or gained access to, material listed as “extremist materials”.
More than 5,000 entries are on the official list, including songs praising Ukraine, blog posts by feminist rock band Pussy Riot and websites critical of Mr Putin.
Lawmakers in the State Duma backed the Bill earlier in July despite rare opposition from two parliamentary groups.
Russian opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who organised a protest against the Bill, said it was like “something out of 1984”, a reference to George Orwell’s novel about a totalitarian superstate.
“This law punishes thought crimes,” he said.
The law also bans advertising for virtual private networks (VPNs) and imposes fines for transferring SIM cards to another person, both ways of browsing with more privacy.
Many Russian users continue to access websites banned by the state via VPN services that allow them to get around state blocks.
Russia has drastically restricted press freedom and freedom of speech online since launching its offensive in Ukraine in 2022
It has blocked access to dozens of Western sites, including Facebook and Instagram. AFP
