In Russia, even searching the word “gay” is blocked

A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) reveals the scope of LGBTQ+ censorship in Russia. According to the report, even the act of searching the word “gay” has been restricted.

Published today, the comprehensive report documents the Russian state’s systematic digital censorship practices and its growing crackdown on freedom of expression.

The report specifically highlights the online censorship targeting LGBTQ+ people and the digital isolation activists face.

Titled “Disrupted, Throttled, and Blocked”, the HRW report offers a detailed analysis of the Russian government’s digital repression tactics aimed at LGBTQ+ communities.

The 2013 law banning the “promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships” was significantly expanded in 2022 to apply to all age groups. This expansion has enabled large-scale blocking of LGBTQ+ content on the internet.

LGBTQ+ content under attack

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the majority of online censorship has targeted news media outlets. At least 418 media websites have been blocked. Authorities have used media bans, “undesirable organisation” designations, and severe war censorship laws to nearly eliminate independent reporting on the war.

Other blocked sites include those related to human rights, LGBTQ+ communities, and platforms critical of the government. During the same period, Russian authorities restricted access to over 236,000 sources on the grounds that they were spreading “false information” about the war in Ukraine.

HRW documented that Russian tech company VK (VKontakte) has censored LGBTQ+ content, including restricting searches for the word “gay”.

The report also notes that Yandex Music, under orders from law enforcement, deleted thousands of music tracks from the platform. Officials claimed the content included “false information about the Russian army” or was LGBT-friendly — using these as grounds for removal.

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