Russia tightens grip on internet with new information bill

Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor has teamed up with the Federal Security Service (FSB) to prepare a new law requiring internet companies to pass on virtually all information they hold on their users to the government security agency.

If the law is passed, internet companies will be obliged to hand over details such as usernames and email addresses and in the case of social media websites, information about messages exchanged. They will also have to provide details of internet traffic to social networks, forums and blogs as well as of any transactions that have taken place.

If passed, the law will be part of the “anti-terrorism” package that is due to come into effect on 1 August this year. Under the raft of new laws, foreign websites will have to register with Roskomnadzor or face a ban in Russia. Another of the laws, implemented last month, obliges bloggers with more than 3,000 daily hits to register with the media watchdog.

The “anti-terrorism” package has seen a number of laws swiftly introduced in Russia in recent months following the bombings in Volgograd in December 2013, causing many to fear that the exchange of information in the country and freedom of expression is increasingly suffering under the tightening grip of the Kremlin.