President Putin has signed a law that allows the FSB to stop mobile phone services at its request, without liability for operators.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has enacted a law that allows the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) to interrupt mobile phone services for subscribers, without operators being held responsible for these interruptions.

The law was recently approved by both chambers of the Russian parliament and amends the Communications Law. Initially, the draft stipulated that the FSB could request the restriction of communications only to protect the security of citizens and the state, but this provision was removed in the final version. Although the circumstances under which the network will be disconnected are not specified, activists fear arbitrary decisions. The law will come into effect within ten days of publication. Currently, many regions in Russia are facing frequent internet connection interruptions, and the censorship imposed by the Kremlin has significantly affected access to information. It is also expected that the messaging network Telegram will be blocked on April 1, which has generated discontent among users.