Russia: Bill amending Federal Law on Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection to prohibit obscene language (Bill No. 989488-8) was introduced in State Duma

On 11 August 2025, the Bill amending Federal Law on Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection to prohibit obscene language (Bill No. 989488-8) was introduced in the State Duma. The Bill amends Article 15.1-1 of Federal Law no. 149-FZ to prohibit obscene language, which includes words and expressions that undermine honour and dignity and deviate from the norms of modern Russian literary language. The explanatory note of the Bill notes that there is no legal definition of obscene language, but specifies that the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) provides a small set of example words that are banned. Under the Bill, content containing obscene language will be required to be either edited to censor specific language or it will be blocked entirely by the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation. The Bill, if adopted, will enter into force on 1 January 2026.