The Law Itself
The month the new Russian law took effect
September
The illegal form of technology Russians could use to bypass government internet blocks
VPNS
The fine for individuals searching banned content
$65
The justification used by Russian officials for increasing censorship
They say it’s needed during wartime
The nearby country that recently passed a similar law
Belarus
The action now punishable under this new law
Searching for extremist or banned content online
The name of Russia’s plan to fully control its national internet system
The “Sovereign Internet”
The fine for individuals promoting VPNs
$2,500
The reason activists say the law is too vague
Because it’s unclear how authorities will prove someone “knowingly” searched for extremist content
The two other countries known for strict online censorship
China and Iran
The type of content the Russian government considers “extremist”
Anything from terrorist propaganda to LGBTQ+ or anti-government material
The social media platforms that Russia restricted or slowed down
YouTube, X (Twitter), and Instagram
The fine for companies promoting VPNs
$12,800
The kind of data that telecom operators would be forced to hand over to authorities if asked
User search history, device data, and browser logs
How this law could affect Russia’s relationship with the global internet community
It could isolate Russia and limit access to global information
How lawmakers justified introducing this new online censorship law
They claimed it was necessary for national security during wartime
How this new law is thought to change the way Russian citizens use the internet in their daily lives
It will likely make people afraid to search or discuss certain topics, leading to self-censorship and less online freedom
The reason activists say even small fines can be dangerous
They create fear and give police excuses to detain people
The reason critics claim labeling LGBTQ+ content as “extremist” helps the government strengthen its power
It lets the government silence minority voices, justify censorship, and rally conservative public support
Why this law is seen as a “global legal challenge”
Because it sets a precedent for other governments to justify internet censorship
The unusual tactic lawmakers used to pass the censorship amendment quickly
They attached it to an unrelated bill about regulating freight companies
Why the definition of “extremist content” in this case is controversial
It includes groups like the LGBT movement along with terrorist organizations
What critics fear these fines could lead to in the future
Criminal charges or imprisonment for online activity
What Senator Artem Sheikin claimed will happen if an individual comes across banned content on social media
He said users won’t be punished for reading Facebook or Instagram
What Apple and Google did in response to Russia’s VPN bans
Apple removed about 60 VPN apps and Google removed only 6 of 212 requested