Law banning search for extremist materials helps avoid blocking foreign platforms in Russia for now - minister

MOSCOW. July 22 (Interfax) - The adoption of a bill banning, in particular, the online search for extremist materials is an alternative to completely blocking foreign platforms in Russia, Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev said.

"In our understanding, this [the adoption of the bill] allows us to strike a balance: on the one hand, to prevent the further dissemination of extremist materials, [and] on the other hand, to refrain from blocking major Western platforms for now," Shadayev said at a State Duma plenary session on Tuesday.

The adoption of a bill banning the online search for extremist materials will not affect ordinary users, Russian Minister of Digital Development, Shadayev said.

"We are saying that ordinary users will not be affected. This is very important," Shadayev said.