In 2023, Roskomnadzor, the Russian federal regulator for communications, announced a sharp rise in the removal of online materials related to LGBT topics on the Russian segment of the internet. The regulator reported that nearly 19,000 items were blocked under this designation. This spike marked a dramatic increase from the previous year when a much smaller number was blocked, signaling a change in enforcement priorities linked to the 2023 law banning LGBT propaganda from spreading online. The numbers were reported by the national press and reflect a broader shift in how content related to sexual orientation is treated in online spaces within the country.
RKN emphasized that the surge in blocks for LGBT content came after the new statute took effect, suggesting that the legal framework is directly shaping what is deemed permissible material online. While the rise in LGBT content bans drew attention, the regulator also noted a decline in the blocking of materials that depict child sexual abuse. In 2022, the figure stood at 29,383, but by 2023 it had fallen to 26,259 materials blocked. This shift illustrates the ongoing debate over how content involving minors is managed on platforms accessible within Russia and the impact of legal and enforcement changes on different categories of online material.
Advocacy groups and observers have offered varying interpretations of the trend. Ekaterina Mizulina, president of the Safer Internet League, suggested that those who distribute child sexual abuse material have become more discreet, increasingly turning to closed chat groups and forums on the darknet to circulate such content. Mizulina also highlighted that legal platforms themselves have grown more aggressive in banning posts that include child exploitation, noting that fear of complaints and potential bans from major app stores contributes to these platforms tightening their moderation policies. The dynamic underscores how platform-level moderation, alongside state regulation, shapes the availability of sensitive online material in Russia and the ways users encounter and report it.
The evolving landscape of online content within Russia reflects broader tensions between regulation, platform governance, and public safety concerns. While enforcement actions against LGBT content have intensified in alignment with new legal provisions, authorities simultaneously pursue reductions in other prohibited material through proactive policing and platform takedowns. Analysts point to a need for clear, consistent guidelines to help users understand what qualifies as restricted content, while also ensuring that safeguarding measures do not overly chill legitimate online expression. As the digital environment continues to develop, monitoring mechanisms and transparent reporting will be essential for assessing the balance between enforcement and access to information in the Russian internet space.