The Russian parliament has introduced significant amendments to the "On Communication" law, which will allow President Vladimir Putin to exclusively determine the conditions for internet shutdowns. Initially, the proposed law allowed for such decisions to involve the Russian government and cited security threats as a reason for disconnection. However, revisions made in the second reading eliminated the government's role and removed security threats as a criterion, instead empowering the FSB with the authority to send 'demands' to internet service providers based solely on a decree from the president.

These changes streamline the decision-making process regarding internet outages, significantly increasing the government's power over digital communication in Russia. This development raises alarms among experts and civil rights advocates, who warn it could lead to even more extensive censorship and limitation of free expression online. The possibility of repressive measures being implemented without transparent checks has raised concerns about the future of digital rights and privacy in Russia.

Currently, internet blocking in Russia is already underway, reflecting the authorities' growing capacity to control online spaces under the guise of security. As experts have noted, the new amendments demonstrate a focused effort by the Kremlin to consolidate its grip on information flow, thus posing further challenges to domestic and international perceptions of Russia’s commitment to digital freedoms.