Russian Lawmakers Pass Bills That Could Block Social Media Sites — And Stifle Dissent

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The lower chamber of Russia’s parliament approved a number of bills on Wednesday that restrict online content.

Dmitry Astakhov/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

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Dmitry Astakhov/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

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When the draft bill to allow blocking foreign sites was introduced last month, Navalny tweeted: «Great. Let them pass it as soon as possible, the whole country will finally install a VPN — a tool that can be used to evade government censors.

Human Rights Watch notes that Russian authorities already have a number of ways to restrict online content: «The 2019 ‘sovereign Internet’ law for example, allows the government to use technology to track, filter and reroute Internet traffic, raising concerns over the arbitrary and extrajudicial blocking of legitimate content.

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Alexei Makarkin, deputy director of the Center for Political Technologies in Moscow, told Bloomberg that the moves are in anticipation of the incoming Biden administration.

«They are preventively crafting a shield against the support of Russia’s opposition from Joe Biden that they expect, he said. «We are ready — that’s what they are demonstrating to America now.

NPR’s Lucian Kim contributed to this report from Moscow.