Roskomnadzor, the Russian communications regulator, has demanded that Opera, Google, and the developer of the Censor Tracker browser extension restrict its operation in Russia, according to a statement from the Interfax press service.
The regulator identified Opera and Google Chrome as platforms hosting browser extensions that provide information on how to bypass censorship. Roskomnadzor has flagged these extensions by including them in the unified register of prohibited content. The agency has instructed Opera, Google, and the developer of the Censor Tracker extension to limit access to any illegal materials, as explained by the department’s press service.
Despite the directive, both companies have not yet complied with Roskomnadzor’s demands. If the infringing content is not removed promptly, the regulator may explore legal measures to hold the companies accountable under existing laws.
In the event of non-compliance with content removal requests, fines imposed by Roskomnadzor can range from 800,000 to 4 million rubles. For repeated violations, companies may face penalties of up to 10% of their annual revenue.
It is worth noting that effective March 1, 2024, Russia has implemented a ban on the dissemination of online content that promotes or facilitates the circumvention of censorship mechanisms to access restricted materials.