Russian lawmakers move ahead with legislation introducing big new Internet censorship powers

The State Duma has approved the first reading of legislation that would grant the Attorney General’s Office the extrajudicial power to block the websites oforganizations blacklisted as “undesirable organizations” in Russia. The draft law won the support of 327 deputies, with just three lawmakers abstaining and no one objecting.

The Russian government currently recognizes 11 “undesirable organizations.”The Attorney General already has the extrajudicial power to block websites that promote public unrest, extremism, and unsanctioned demonstrations.

The draft legislation also contains a small but highly significant proposal: the extrajudicial blocking not just of “undesirable” content, but of any online information that allows Internet users to access content banned in Russia. In theory, this means the legislation would empower the Attorney General’s Office to block any website or webpage that publishes instructions for circumventing the government’s Internet censorship.