In a move to tighten internet censorship, Russia is working on a controversial new law that would punish individuals for searching online for ‘extremist’ content. The legislation was approved by the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, on July 22, and is now headed to the Federation Council for review, according to a report by Reuters. Once cleared, it will be sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin for final approval and is expected to come into effect on September 1. According to the Russian government, the law targets individuals who intentionally seek out banned or extremist content online, including those who use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass existing internet restrictions. The legislation is part of a broader crackdown on digital freedoms in the country. To define what constitutes ‘extremist’ content, the Ministry of Justice has released a list of over 500 pages including topics deemed illegal. This includes references to Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, the international LGBTQ+ movement, content supporting Ukraine, songs glorifying Ukrainian resistance, and even links to Meta Platforms, which operates Facebook and Instagram, both banned in Russia. Individuals found violating the new law by searching for restricted content may face fines ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles. Those found advertising or distributing VPN services could be fined 50,000 to 500,000 roubles. This legislation is the latest step in Russia’s growing efforts to control the internet. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian authorities have banned or limited access to several social media platforms and foreign tech companies. Under the new law, law enforcement agencies would also have the authority to monitor users’ search history and data from internet providers and mobile operators. Earlier, President Putin had called for restrictions on software and tech products from “unfriendly countries,” sparking fears that popular apps like WhatsApp could soon be banned. The law has faced backlash from the public and opposition lawmakers. In the State Duma, 14.9% of lawmakers voted against the bill, while 22 abstained — signaling internal dissent. Critics warn that the vague definition of ‘extremist’ content leaves room for abuse and could be expanded at the government’s discretion. Still, Sergei Boyarsky, head of the Duma’s information technology committee, defended the legislation. The Business Day cited him saying, “This bill concerns a narrow group of people who look for extremist content because they are already one step away from extremism.”