Story perspectives

Putin Cracks Down on Foreign Platforms, Bans Extremist Searches

6/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to compile a list of “unfriendly” platforms and to stifle foreign internet services.
A new law criminalizes online searches for broadly defined “extremist” material, including LGBTQ+ content, opposition groups and Alexei Navalny’s memoir.
Authorities have blocked Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Signal, threatened to block WhatsApp (97 million users), promoted MAX (2 million registrations) and raised internet-provider licenses from 7,500 to 1 million rubles.

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Story summary

President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to compile a list of “unfriendly” platforms and to stifle foreign internet services.
A new law criminalizes online searches for broadly defined “extremist” material, including LGBTQ+ content, opposition groups and Alexei Navalny’s memoir.
Authorities have blocked Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Signal, threatened to block WhatsApp (97 million users), promoted MAX (2 million registrations) and raised internet-provider licenses from 7,500 to 1 million rubles.