The Russian parliament has passed a law imposing fines on people reading or searching for online content designated by authorities as "extremist", Reuters reported, BTA reported.
The bill, voted on in the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament), has drawn criticism from some pro-government figures and opposition activists. Critics say the fines of up to 5,000 rubles ($63.82) it provides could pave the way for harsher punishments and fines.
The Justice Ministry's list of extremist materials includes over 500 pages.
Organizations banned in Russia for "extremist activity" include the Anti-Corruption fund of the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, the "international LGBT movement" and the US tech giant "Meta" (the company that owns "Facebook", "Instagram" and "WhatsApp").
On Friday, lawmakers responsible for regulating the technology sector said that the "WhatsApp" application should prepare for withdrawal from the Russian market, as it may be added to a list of restricted software.
The new law targets people who deliberately search for "extremist materials" online, including through virtual private networks (VPNs), which millions of people in Russia use to bypass censorship and access banned content.
"The law affects a very small group of people who search for extremist content because they themselves are already one step away from extremism," the chairman said. of the State Duma Information Technology Committee Sergei Boyarsky.
Minister of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev said that law enforcement agencies will have to prove that users had a deliberate intention to view extremist materials, but accidental access to them will not be punished.