Digital Repression in Putin's Russia - Eastern Express - TVP WORLD

Russia is preparing to fine citizens for simply searching for banned “extremist” content online – a move that criminalizes curiosity, not just content sharing. Starting September 1, ordinary Russians could face fines for accessing blacklisted information, even via VPNs. The law, quietly tucked into unrelated legislation, marks an intensifying wave of digital authoritarianism in Putin’s Russia. Critics warn this shift will chill private thought and empower surveillance tech under the guise of combating extremism.