State Duma commented on statements on VPN fines

“I have not yet contacted all the interested parties, I did not have that information, there was no initiative. I would not like to comment on the opinions of specialists if they are simply based on sensations,” Boyarsky said.

Member of the IT Committee of the State Duma, Anton Nemkin, in conversation with RT, confirmed that “no one has planned or plans to monitor visits to prohibited resources or impose fines for this, it is not on the agenda; “Whether or not to use a VPN is the decision of each citizen,” the deputy emphasized.

Previously, IT specialists and lawyers interviewed by the Hi-Tech Mail portal spoke about the possibility of introducing administrative liability for the use of VPNs in Russia. TIQUM founder Yuri Gizatullin noted that Roskomnadzor already has the technical capabilities to monitor VPN connections, but “large-scale monitoring of each user will require gigantic resources.”

The expert added that many Russian companies use VPN not to bypass blocking, but to “ensure cybersecurity” of employees, although determining “the line between legal and illegal use is almost impossible.”

“The introduction of massive fines for ordinary users will require a significant refinement of the legislative framework,” Kristina Mkrtchyan, counsel for the EDB’s intellectual property practice, told the publication. In his opinion, authorities are more likely to impose sanctions “in cases of other crimes in which the VPN acts as an aggravating factor.”

Last week, Roskomnadzor published a draft order that would force Russian operators to provide the regulator with data allowing the identification of “communication media and user equipment on the Internet.” These requirements will allow RKN to obtain data about users who visit blocked sites, Vedomosti noted.

The press service of the regulator RB.RU stated that the measure is necessary to prevent cyber attacks and that data on “users’ personal devices” will not be collected, “as they are not necessary to counter threats.”