Russian lawmakers mull fines for looking up banned content online

Russian lawmakers have introduced amendments to an existing bill that would introduce fines for “searching for and gaining access to extremist materials” online due to come into force on 1 September, according to the State Duma database.

If the amendments to the bill are adopted, those guilty of the new administrative offence would face fines of between 3,000 rubles (€33) and 5,000 rubles (€55), digital rights organisation Net Freedoms Project (NFP) wrote on Tuesday.

NFP said that under the new law, users’ search and history details could be handed to the authorities by search engine owners, telephone companies or any public company, such as subways, cafés or hotels, which offered free Wi-Fi access.

Another amendment to the bill foresees fines for those advertising VPN services, ranging from 50,000 rubles (€550) for individuals to 500,000 rubles (€5,500) for companies. Russians routinely use VPNs to access banned content and disguise their identity and location specifically to avoid legal problems arising from their online activity.

The amendments were added to a bill on streamlining the freight industry that was already on its way through the State Duma, NFP noted, adding that this was not the first attempt by deputies to introduce potentially explosive amendments to bills by the back door.

“It’s a way of speeding up the process by going straight to the second and third readings in a single day. It helps avoid public outcry,” NFP said.