Owen Matthews:
A law currently before the Duma would give the FSB and prosecutors the most sweeping powers they have had since the fall of the Soviet Union, from censoring Internet sites to arresting people for “obstructing investigations.” The draconian new law is in the name of fighting “extremism”—defined as anything “undermining the authority of state officials” or “insulting the honor of the Russian nation.” Internet service providers must shut down offending Web sites within three days of receiving a complaint from the FSB, and the burden of proof will be on the sites to disprove extremism charges.
China may soon be joined by Russia.