Stop funnels: State Duma bans advertising on extremist and unwanted social networks

On Tuesday, March 25, State Duma deputies approved changes to the legislation, banning advertising on sites deemed undesirable in Russia. This is done in order to deprive the owners of such resources of the opportunity to earn income. For more information about the document, the reasons for its adoption, as well as fines for violating the law, see the Izvestia article.

Advertising on banned social networks: draft law, restrictions, reasons

On March 25, deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation immediately adopted amendments to federal laws in the second and third readings: "On Countering Extremist Activities" and "On Advertising."

According to the document, which will enter into force on September 1, 2025, a ban is imposed on "the distribution of advertising on information resources of a foreign or international organization whose activities are considered undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation <...>." The restriction will also affect public or religious associations and organizations for which a decision was previously taken to liquidate them. or ban it.

As explained in the Association of Bloggers and Agencies, a six-month delay between the adoption of the norm and the start of action will help people, businesses and agencies to put their documents in order and transfer advertising campaigns to other social networks.

Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin previously noted that the owners of blocked social networks are pursuing an unfriendly policy towards Russia and spreading false information.

«<...> citizens and companies continue to use them to advertise their goods and services. Sometimes, without even thinking, they transfer money to those who intentionally harm our country," Vyacheslav Volodin said.

With the adoption of the law, the interests of Russia and its citizens will be protected, as well as one of the sources of income for owners of prohibited information resources will be blocked.

The document was submitted for consideration in June 2024 and adopted in the first reading a month later.

Earnings through social networks, top bloggers of 2024

The ban on the use of advertising will affect a number of sites and resources that are considered undesirable or prohibited in the Russian Federation. Instagram Facebook and Instagram (owned by Meta, a company that is recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) will be included here, in particular.

In these social networks, especially Instagram, despite its ban, Russian bloggers continue to earn money from advertising. According to the ADinBlog service, last year, journalist Ksenia Sobchak took the first place in terms of earnings (more than 38 million rubles). The list also includes Oksana Samoilova, the wife of rapper Dzhigan (more than 24.5 million rubles), blogger Ida Galich (more than 12.5 million rubles), singer and TV presenter Olga Buzova (about 9.6 million rubles).

Roskomnadzor explained to Izvestia that the volume of advertising budgets registered in the Unified Register of Online Advertising (from 2022 to 2024) aimed at advertising on foreign social networks, access to which is restricted in the Russian Federation, amounted to 13.6 billion rubles. Of these, Instagram accounts for 9.46 billion rubles, X (ex. Twitter) — 2.12 billion, Facebook — 2.02 billion.

Fines for advertising on social networks

Facebook instagramming fines may also increase 40-fold, in addition to the adoption of the law. Instagram and Facebook ads may be subject to increased penalties. The corresponding amendments to the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation were initiated by Anatoly Vyborny, Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security.

Currently, an advertiser, advertiser, or advertiser's violation of the law on advertising entails an administrative fine regulated by Article 14.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation in the following amounts:

— for citizens — from 2 thousand to 2.5 thousand rubles;

— for officials — from 4 thousand to 20 thousand rubles;

— for legal entities from 100 to 500 thousand rubles.

According to experts, the punishment should be more serious due to the fact that the income is in the millions, and the fines are small.

Pass the post: fines for advertising on banned social networks want to increase 40 times

The State Duma proposes to tighten responsibility for PR on resources recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation.

The issue of introducing a rule in the Administrative Code that will provide for fines for violating these restrictions is currently being considered. If it is accepted, the fine for individuals may increase from 2 thousand to 30 or even 100 thousand rubles. Penalties for other categories may also be revised up.