The upper house of the Russian parliament approved a bill that penalizes online searches for information officially labeled "extremist." It is the latest in a series of moves by authorities to tighten control of the internet. The legislation makes what it describes as "deliberately searching for and accessing extremist materials" online punishable by a fine of up to the equivalent of $64 (€54). The bill, which was endorsed by the lower house earlier this week, is now set to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. In Russia, the official definition of extremist activity is extremely broad and includes opposition groups such as the Anti-Corruption Foundation, which was created by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, as well as the "international LGBT movement." It is unclear how the authorities will track down violators. According to officials and lawmakers, only those who methodically seek outlawed content will be targeted, and ordinary internet users won't be affected. However, no explanation was offered as to how authorities would differentiate between them. Many Russians use VPN services to access banned content. However, authorities have sought to tighten restrictions and close loopholes. Russian authorities have ramped up their multipronged crackdown on dissent after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022, with online censorship and prosecutions for social media posts and comments having soared since then. Multiple independent news outlets and rights groups have been shut down, labeled as "foreign agents," or outlawed as "undesirable." Additionally, hundreds of activists and Kremlin critics have faced criminal charges.