Russia: Implemented Law No. 406-FZ amending Act on Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection and Act on Communications including content moderation authority governance

On 31 July 2023, Law No. 406-FZ, amending the Act on Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection and Act on Communications, previously Bill no. 570420-7, entered into force. The Law enables the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) to expand its register of prohibited information to include websites disseminating content related to methods of circumventing access restrictions within Russia. Under the Law, Roskomnadzor would be empowered to block websites promoting services and techniques for bypassing these restrictions, thereby preventing the popularisation and advocacy of such methods. The Roskomnadzor is required to amend its criteria for including websites in the register.