(Adnkronos) – The Russian Duma has approved in second reading – the most important – a new law that significantly strengthens control over the use of the internet. The measure provides for fines of up to 5,000 rubles (about 60 euros) for those who carry out online searches for content considered “extremist” by the authorities. Among the targets are also resources critical of the government, such as the Anti-Corruption Foundation created by opponent Alexei Navalny.
A further amendment introduces penalties for those who advertise VPN services, tools that allow access to blocked sites in Russia: in this case, fines can reach up to 500,000 rubles (about 6,000 euros). VPN services themselves, however, are not yet banned. While independent media talk about the toughest digital crackdown in recent years, the promoters of the law say it is not a mass persecution against users, but an action aimed primarily at access providers and technical services. The text will now have to be approved by the Federation Council and signed by Vladimir Putin to come into force.
