Russia tax police gain the power to block Web anonymizers before lawmakers can even pass a ban

Russia’s Federal Tax Service (FNS) confirms that it now has the authority to block websites offering technologies that allow Internet users to circumvent Russian state censorship, an agency representative told the new agency RNS.

The FNS says it cannot block Web anonymizers, but it will be taking action against websites that allow Internet users to download such programs.

Russia’s tax police gained this new power in June 2017, following regulatory reforms that broadened the mandate of the FNS, which also targets illegal online casinos.

Russian federal lawmakers in the State Duma are currently reviewing legislation that would ban technologies that make it possible to circumvent Internet censorship. The Duma unanimously adopted the first reading of legislation on June 23.