Russia intensifies online crackdown on illegal drugs with propaganda ban expansion
The Russian government has expanded its enforcement on promoting illegal drugs and psychotropic substances, signaling a stricter approach to online drug trafficking. Announced on April 1 via the cabinet’s official channel, the plan would rewrite parts of the federal laws On Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and related regulatory provisions. The move fits into a broader effort to close gaps that allowed drug-related propaganda to flourish online, especially in fast spreading digital spaces that reach broad audiences. Officials describe the change as a necessary adjustment to contemporary online realities to improve the effectiveness of legal remedies against those who spread material that supports illegal drug circulation.
The central objective of the amendments is to strip promotional content tied to illegal drug trade of any legitimate status under current law. By clarifying what counts as prohibited propaganda and narrowing the cases in which certain communications could be considered lawful, lawmakers aim to limit the ability of online platforms to host or amplify messages that encourage illicit transactions or the sale of controlled substances. The government notes that the revision will also address existing ambiguities and seek consistency across different media and online channels. At the same time, the package appears to introduce new limits on how information about illegal funds linked to drug markets can be shared on the internet. This could affect a wide range of online activities, from social posts to messaging services and other digital communications. The expectation is that these changes will help authorities pursue administrative and criminal liability more effectively when propaganda promotes illegal drug circulation or funds tied to such activity, thereby strengthening enforcement and discouraging potential offenders.
Earlier, in the middle of the previous year, Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed legislation to criminalize the sale of drugs through online platforms. That effort signals a parallel track in the government’s broader strategy to curb drug trafficking in digital spaces, focusing specifically on the transactional side of online drug markets while the new propaganda ban targets messaging and promotion. Taken together, these measures reflect a comprehensive approach to reducing illegal drug activity online by limiting both the visibility of illicit offerings and the channels that facilitate the promotion of these substances. Legal experts question how clearly the revised provisions will be drafted, how effectively law enforcement can apply them across diverse online contexts, and how platforms will implement compliance without restricting legitimate information and free expression. The government emphasizes that the reforms are intended to strengthen legality and public safety while creating a predictable, enforceable legal environment where information can be regulated in a clear manner, with concrete consequences for those who attempt to promote illegal drug trade online.