The Russian State Duma has passed a law introducing fines for individuals who search for or access content deemed "extremist" online, including through the use of virtual private networks (VPNs). The legislation, which amends the Code of Administrative Offenses (Article 13.53), imposes fines ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles for willful searches of such content. Additionally, providers of VPN services that facilitate access to banned materials may face penalties of up to 500,000 rubles. The law is set to come into effect on September 1, 2025. Lawmakers argue the measure targets deliberate searches for extremist materials, although critics warn it marks a new phase of internet censorship in Russia. The bill was approved with 285 deputies voting in favor, 19 against, and 20 abstentions. This development follows previous legislation criminalizing the sharing of extremist content, expanding restrictions to include the act of searching for it online.