The Ministry of Digital Development has proposed allowing research on “extremist” material on the Internet for scientific purposes and as part of law enforcement activities. Forbes magazine read the text of the relevant amendments to the “Countering Extremist Activities” Law.
The new amendments, according to experts interviewed by the newspaper, also correct a legal conflict that made law enforcement officers’ conflict with “extremist material” illegal.
Deliberately searching the Internet for “deliberately extremist material” has been an administrative offense in Russia since September 1, 2025. Fines for this purpose range from three to five thousand roubles.
The first fine under the new article was issued in December. It was received by a resident of the city of Kamensk-Uralsky, who was assigned to search for information about the Azov battalion and the Russian Volunteer Corps.
