Potential halting of nearly all advancements in defense production facilities within Russia.
In a move that could significantly impact internet freedom in Russia, proposed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses are set to impose strict penalties on ordinary citizens who use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or search for banned extremist content online. The new laws, expected to take effect from September 1, 2025, could lead to hefty fines and potential criminal charges.
The amendments criminalize the use of VPNs to bypass internet restrictions, with individuals facing fines of up to 200,000 rubles ($2,500) if found violating these provisions[3]. Searching for extremist material, even through VPN services, could result in fines of between 3,000 and 5,000 rubles (approximately $35 to $60)[2].
Advertising or recommending VPN services is also targeted, with fines ranging up to 80,000 rubles ($900) for individuals, much higher for officials, and steep fines for companies[1][4][3]. These fines could have a significant impact on ordinary Russians, with fines for individuals ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 rubles, for officials from 80,000 to 100,000 rubles, and for legal entities up to 500,000 rubles or even 1 million rubles in some drafts[1][4].
The potential consequences extend beyond financial penalties. Having a VPN installed might trigger investigative scrutiny, with the possibility of criminal charges after only one or two warnings, drawing parallels to other restrictive laws like those on foreign agents[1]. Digital rights groups caution these laws could effectively criminalize ordinary internet activity, as the wording is vague enough to be interpreted broadly to punish users seeking blocked information or simply having circumvention tools on their devices[1][4].
The IT and engineering sector could be particularly affected, with the specialist warning that downloading libraries, drivers, updates, and other engineering support programs without violating the VPN ban will be impossible[4]. A Russian engineer has described the potential fines for using VPN services as a "real catastrophe" for the sector.
The new laws come as several major tech companies have faced restrictions in Russia. Twitter (now X) was banned due to "false information" about the war in Ukraine, while Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has been recognized as an extremist organization, leading to the blocking of access to these social networks.
It is important to note that these amendments do not directly prohibit the use of VPN services by ordinary users, according to the Chairman of the State Duma's Information Policy Committee, Sergei Boyarsky[5]. However, the proposed changes could have far-reaching implications for internet freedom and access to uncensored information in Russia.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61800278 [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-proposes-fines-using-vpn-search-extremist-content-2022-03-21/ [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-proposes-fines-using-vpn-bypass-internet-restrictions-2022-03-15/ [4] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/15/russia-proposes-to-fine-users-who-use-vpn-to-access-banned-sites [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-proposes-fines-using-vpn-bypass-internet-restrictions-2022-03-15/
- The proposed amendments to Russia's Code of Administrative Offenses, set to take effect in 2025, represent a significant shift in cybersecurity policy-and-legislation, with potential penalties for individuals using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or searching for banned content, bringing internet freedom concerns into the forefront of general-news discussions.
- The repercussions of these changes extend beyond financial penalties, as digital rights groups warn that the vaguely worded provisions could effectively criminalize ordinary internet activity, thereby raising questions about the role of politics and technology in shaping these restrictive laws.
- The IT and engineering sector, in particular, could be heavily impacted by these amendments, as a specialist has pointed out that downloading essential engineering support programs without violating the VPN ban may become near-impossible, leading to potential concerns about technology accessibility and the overall state of the sector.
