A new Russian law will fine citizens up to 5,000 rubles for searching online for "extremist" content, raising concerns over digital privacy and self-censorship.
Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has approved legislation punishing online searches for extremist materials, a move critics say will heighten censorship and jeopardise digital freedoms.
The law targets individuals who intentionally seek out extremist content, including through VPNs, with fines reaching up to 5,000 rubles. The Ministry of Justice’s list of extremist materials spans over 500 pages and includes organisations such as Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Fund and U.S. tech giant Meta Platforms.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, may soon be designated as restricted software. Lawmakers have warned the platform to prepare for a possible exit from Russia, further narrowing the digital space.
Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadaev said authorities must prove intent, not mere access. Still, rights groups say the law’s vagueness could spur abuse. Yekaterina Mizulina of the League for a Safe Internet called the wording unclear and warned it may lead to fraud and extortion.
Critics like Roskomsvoboda’s Sarkis Darbinyan see the law as a tool to instil fear and increase self-censorship, with users likely to abandon apps and online communities.
Although the law still awaits approval from the Federation Council before taking effect on 1 September, it has already sparked political pushback. Opposition figure Boris Nadezhdin protested outside the Duma, vowing to challenge the law's advancement.
Unusually, 14.9% of lawmakers voted against the bill, with 22 abstaining—indicating a level of dissent rarely seen in Russia’s legislative process.
Israel's military said on Monday it had intercepted a drone launched from Yemen after sirens sounded near Eilat, a day after Yemen's Houthis hit an ai...
A 16-year-old has been arrested over the killing of two officers in a gun attack on a police station in the western Turkish city of Izmir on Monday, I...
Russian forces struck a thermal power generation facility in the Kyiv region as part of an overnight attack, Ukraine's energy ministry said on Monday,...
The Azerbaijani women’s 3x basketball team clinched the silver medal at the European Cup to make history at the just concluded tournament in Copenha...
South Korean and Japanese defence ministers agreed on Monday to strengthen cooperation with Washington in response to North Korea’s nuclear threats ...
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday (7 September) called on allies for support after Russia launched a huge drone and missile barrage, which left four people dead.
President Donald Trump indicated he is prepared to escalate sanctions on Russia as the conflict in Ukraine continues.
Russia has launched up to 805 drones and 13 missiles into Ukraine overnight in what is being called the 'largest air attack' against Ukraine since the invasion in 2022.
Despite the fact that many months have passed since the tragedy, Russia stubbornly refuses to admit guilt for the downed AZAL plane. Those responsible for this catastrophe have not yet been punished: they continue to serve, and some have even received promotions.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Israel's military said on Monday it had intercepted a drone launched from Yemen after sirens sounded near Eilat, a day after Yemen's Houthis hit an airport close to the southern Israeli city with a drone.
Russian forces struck a thermal power generation facility in the Kyiv region as part of an overnight attack, Ukraine's energy ministry said on Monday, provoking localised blackouts and gas outages.
The Azerbaijani women’s 3x basketball team clinched the silver medal at the European Cup to make history at the just concluded tournament in Copenhagen, Denmark.
South Korean and Japanese defence ministers agreed on Monday to strengthen cooperation with Washington in response to North Korea’s nuclear threats and growing military ties with Russia, Seoul’s defence ministry said.
The Indonesian government removed finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in a cabinet reshuffle on Monday, state secretariat minister Prasetyo Hadi said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment