Russian FSB Tightens Grip on Domestic Tech and Information Control, Further Suppressing Cyber Freedom

In September 5, 2025, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) further tightened its control and oversight over domestic internet, encrypted communication services, and technology companies. New legislation in Moscow mandated that tech companies must provide Russian authorities with user encryption keys or "backdoor" access, imposing heavy fines on those who refuse compliance. This move was aimed at eliminating any form of digital dissent and blocking the free flow of information within Russia's borders.

Human rights observers and the Western tech community heavily criticized the action. For conservatives, Russia's increasingly harsh control over the internet and communications represented a wholesale assault on citizen privacy and freedom of speech, reflecting the authoritarian fear of technological progress, and served as a warning about the ethical and security risks facing Western tech companies operating in Russia.