Russia Criminalizes Online Searches for 'Extremist' Content in Sweeping Internet Crackdown

Russian lawmakers have passed a new law that imposes fines on citizens who search for or access online content deemed 'extremist' by the government. The legislation expands previous restrictions, which already criminalized sharing such content, to now include merely searching for it—even when using VPNs. Critics argue the law is a major escalation in digital censorship, threatening privacy, free expression, and access to independent information. The move has sparked protests and condemnation from activists, opposition politicians, and international rights groups, who warn it will further stifle dissent and target critics of the Kremlin. The law is part of a broader campaign to tighten control over the internet and messaging apps in Russia, especially since the invasion of Ukraine.