Don't give #Trump any ideas, #Putti!

#RussianParliament approves a bill punishing online searches for information deemed ‘#extremist’

Updated 6:47 AM EDT, July 25, 2025

MOSCOW (AP) — "The Russian parliament’s upper house on Friday quickly approved a bill that punishes #OnlineSearches for information officially branded 'extremist,' the latest in a series of moves by authorities to tighten control of the internet.

The legislation makes what it describes as 'deliberately searching for and accessing extremist materials' online punishable by a fine of up to the equivalent of $64.

"The bill, which was endorsed by the lower house earlier this week, is now set to be signed into law by President Vladimir #Putin.

The official definition of extremist activity is extremely broad and includes opposition groups like the #AntiCorruptionFoundation, created by the late opposition leader #AlexeiNavalny, and the 'international #LGBT movement.'

"It’s not clear how authorities will track down violators.

"Officials and lawmakers said ordinary internet users won’t be affected and only those who methodically seek outlawed content will be targeted. They didn’t explain how authorities would differentiate between them.

"Russians widely use #VPN services for access to #BannedContent, but authorities have sought to tighten restrictions and close the loopholes. The state communications watchdog has increasingly used technology to analyze traffic and block specific VPN protocols.

"Russian authorities have ramped up their multipronged #crackdown on dissent after sending troops into #Ukraine in February 2022.

"Since then, online #censorship and prosecutions for social media posts and comments have soared.

"Multiple independent news outlets and rights groups have been shut down, labeled as 'foreign agents' or outlawed as 'undesirable.' Hundreds of #activists and critics of the #Kremlin have faced criminal charges."

#SilencingDissent #Russia #RussiaPol #RussiaFirst #SilencingJournalism #Authoritarianism #Fascism #CharacteristicsOfFascism

#Trump appears to be building an unprecedented #SpyMachine that could track Americans

A new report shines light on contracts with tech company #Palantir, which could create data profiles of Americans to surveil and harass them.

By Ja'han Jones
May 30, 2025, 4:25 PM EDT

"The push has put a key Palantir product called #Foundry into at least four federal agencies, including #DHS and the Health and Human Services Department. Widely adopting Foundry, which organizes and analyzes data, paves the way for Mr. Trump to easily merge information from different agencies, the government officials said. Creating detailed portraits of Americans based on government data is not just a pipe dream. The Trump administration has already sought access to hundreds of data points on citizens and others through government databases, including their bank account numbers, the amount of their student debt, their medical claims and any disability status. Mr. Trump could potentially use such information to advance his political agenda by policing immigrants and punishing critics, Democratic lawmakers and critics have said."

Read more:
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-palantir-surveillance-americans-rcna210017

#HHS #KristiNoem #BigBrother #authoritarianism #Fascism #USPol #SilencingDissent #SilencingJournalism #SurveillanceState #Orwellian #TechnoFascism

#EU will provide emergency funds to help keep #RadioFreeEurope afloat after US cuts

May 20, 2025

"The European Union agreed Tuesday to provide emergency funds to help keep Radio Free Europe afloat after the Trump administration stopped grants to the pro-democracy media outlet, accusing it of promoting a news agenda with a liberal bias.

"Radio Free Europe / #RadioLiberty started broadcasting during the #ColdWar. Its programs are aired in 27 languages in 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Its lawyers have been fighting the administration in court.

"EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc’s foreign ministers had agreed to a 5.5-million-euro ($6.2 million) contract to 'support the vital work of Radio Free Europe.' The 'short-term emergency funding' is a 'safety net' for #IndependentJournalism, she said.

"Kallas said the EU would not be able to fill the organization’s funding gap around the world, but that it can help the broadcaster to 'work and function in those countries that are in our neighborhood and that are very much dependent on news coming from outside.' "

https://apnews.com/article/europe-radio-free-trump-funds-9e6283df860222e825c81ff0c1c0ef9b

#DOGECuts #BadDOGE #USPol #WorldPol #ResistAuthoritarianism #ResistFascism #Journalism #SilencingJournalism

Russia jails former DW journalists over Navalny ties

https://www.dw.com/en/russia-jails-former-dw-journalists-over-navalny-ties/a-72182640

Two former DW journalists, Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin, along with two other journalists, have been sentenced to several years in prison in Russia on charges of extremism, that they denied.

#Russia #SilencingJournalism #PoliticalPrisoners