Power in Russia’s authoritarian political system is concentrated in the hands of President Vladimir Putin. Finally, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government began a campaign to censor information that conflicted with official statistics, accusing its distributors of publishing fake news. The authorities also moved to restrict anonymous communications, blocking several encrypted email services. The persecution of users for their online activities continued, with the state initiating new administrative and criminal proceedings against political activists and, in particular, participants in mass protests that took place before the September 2019 regional elections.
A leadership shakeup at the regulatory body responsible for the Sovereign Runet agenda may accelerate the implementation of this law. After the Sovereign Runet Law entered into force in November 2019, the government conducted simulations designed to ensure that the Russian portion of the internet, the so-called Runet, can function independently of the global internet in the event of unspecific threats, testing equipment that will enable authorities to more effectively restrict access to online content.
Internet freedom in Russia contracted during the coverage period, as the government continued to fine-tune its online censorship apparatus.
