Russia Tightens Internet Laws Against 'Banned Content'

Russia Tightens Internet Laws Against 'Banned Content'

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed several laws last week to increase state control over information online, including one that introduces crippling fines for failing to remove “banned material.”

Although sexually explicit content is technically legal in Russia, existing laws banning “the illegal production, dissemination and advertisement of pornographic materials and objects" and other laws claiming to “protect the health of Russian children” are deployed by the state at its own discretion against sites hosting adult content.

The end-of-the-year legislative package signed into law by Putin, according to Reuters, also grants the Russian government “new powers to restrict U.S. social media giants, label individuals ‘foreign agents,’ and to crack down on the disclosure of its security officers' personal data.”

Putin’s government is currently engaged in a campaign to “increase Russia's internet sovereignty,” which according to observers might result in a closed, state-monitored internet, similar to what China achieved with its Great Firewall.

Some of the measures signed into law last week resulted from complaints about supposed bias and prejudice shown by Facebook, Twitter and YouTube against Russian media.

Twitter has labeled some tweets by Russia-based news outlets as ”state-affiliated media,” a move the Kremlin has protested as prejudicial. Putin’s government has attacked the U.S.-based platforms in terms almost identical to Donald Trump’s complaints about platform bias in his campaign to repeal Section 230 protections.

One of the new laws, according to Reuters, introduces “hefty fines of up to 20% of their previous year's Russia-based turnover for sites that repeatedly fail to remove banned content, something that YouTube and Facebook have often failed to do according to Russian lawmakers.”

Russian government agency Roskomnadzor maintains a blacklist that includes thousands of sites blocked for allegedly “violating the notoriously vague extremism legislation or child protection laws,” according to a 2016 BBC report.

The BBC mentioned the case of a woman who asked Roskomnadzor on Twitter if they could recommend alternative sites to watch adult content.

The agency’s social media manager replied, “You can meet someone in real life."

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Chaturbate Announces 2025 Music Contest Winners

Chaturbate has revealed the winners of its 2025 music competition.

2026 XBIZ Exec Awards Pre-Noms Open With Debut of New 'Impact' Honors

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the pre-nomination period for the 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards, the adult industry’s premier career honor, begins today and runs through Oct. 14.

MYM Launches New Traffic System

German creator platform MYM has launched a new traffic system for its members.

Ukrainian Content Creators on Hook for Nearly $10M in Back Taxes

Content creators in Ukraine owe the equivalent of $9.3 million in back taxes, according to the country's State Tax Service.

European Patent Office Board of Appeals Revokes EIS GmbH Patent

The European Patent Office (EPO) Board of Appeals last week ruled in favor of pleasure brand LELO in the company's ongoing dispute with Satisfyer parent company EIS GmbH.

Eroutique Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Eroutique has relaunched its official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Update: Pornhub Will Not Block Ohio, Despite AV Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo will not block access to its websites in Ohio, despite new state age verification rules that came into effect Sept. 30.

Pineapple Support, Pornhub to Host 'ADHD-Friendly' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Pornhub are hosting a free online support group for performers with ADHD.

Judge Dismisses Some Claims in 'Children of Pornhub' Trafficking Suit

A United States district judge on Friday dismissed some but not all claims against Aylo in a long-running case involving CSAM allegations featured in the influential 2020 New York Times article “The Children of Pornhub.”

FSC Sets Key Dates, Qualifiers for December Board of Directors Election

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) today announced key dates and qualifiers for its upcoming Board of Directors election.

Show More