Age verification could soon land in Russia – putting already precarious internet freedoms on the line

• Russia is considering mandatory online age verification
• Internet users would need to prove their age to access 18+ content
• The move echoes similar laws enforced in the UK and the US

Mandatory age verification is arriving everywhere, with Russian lawmakers becoming the latest to consider age-gating online content.

On October 21, a member of the Russian Civic Chamber, Yevgeny Masharov, proposed a plan to force all internet users to prove their age. This would involve using their passport data, driver's license, or bank information to access online content intended for an 18+ audience.

Like similar laws enforced across Western nations, the move stems from a bid to shield minors from harmful content. Yet, experts have long argued that age verification could negatively impact people's right to free speech, access to information, privacy, and digital security.