You could be fined $65 just for googling ‘LGBT Movement’ or ‘Nazi’ in this country

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Russia has just passed a tough new law that fines people for simply searching certain words or topics online. According to The Washington Post, Russian lawmakers have approved rules where people can be fined about $65 just for looking up so-called “extremist” content on the internet even if they don’t share or post anything.

What does “extremist” mean in Russia? It covers a wide range of topics. For example, the LGBT movement is labeled “extremist,” so is al-Qaeda, and so is anything promoting Nazi views. There’s a government list with over 5,500 banned topics and groups, and authorities have been adding to it rapidly.

Before this law, people in Russia could be punished only if they posted or shared such content. But now, even using a VPN to privately search for it can lead to fines.

And it doesn’t stop there. The government is also cracking down on people who promote tools like VPNs (which help people access blocked websites). If someone promotes VPN use, the fine can be as high as $2,500 for individuals and nearly $13,000 for companies.

Russian officials are calling this a necessary step during wartime, but critics see it as another major attack on free speech. The changes were quietly attached to an unrelated bill about freight companies, making it clear that the government wants to tighten control over internet use.

In short, searching certain words online in Russia could now get you into serious trouble even if you’re just trying to read and learn.