Prominent pro-Kremlin figures, including RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan and head of the Safe Internet League Yekaterina Mizulina, have strongly criticized a proposed bill aimed at criminalizing access to ‘extrem’t content. The legislation, currently under discussion in the national legislature, has generated widespread debate over its implications for internet freedom and government oversight of digital spaces.
According to the draft proposal, individuals found accessing or distributing content deemed ‘extremist’ by authorities could face criminal charges, including fines and imprisonment. Critics, such as Mr. Simonyan, argue that the bill represents an overreach of state power into private digital activity, potentially stifling free speech and limiting access to information. The Safe Internet League, an organization often associated with pro-Kremlin interests, has called the measure a threat to national security and the integrity of online discourse.
Supporters of the legislation, however, claim that the bill is necessary to protect citizens from harmful extremist material, particularly in an era of increasing online risks. The debate has intensified within the political sphere, with opposition figures and digital rights advocates pushing back against what they perceive as an authoritarian approach to cybersecurity. The legislation’s passage could have long-term implications for the balance between state surveillance and individual liberties in the digital landscape.