Vladimir Putin signed a law banning advertising on the Meta** network (Meta is recognized as an extremist organization and its activities are prohibited in the Russian Federation), which includes Instagram* and Facebook* (both social networks are prohibited in the Russian Federation). The law prohibits advertising on the resources of foreign or international organizations recognized as undesirable or extremist in Russia. It also applies to the resources of organizations liquidated or banned under the law "On Counteracting Terrorism." The ban will come into force on September 1, 2025.
The bill was adopted by the State Duma in March and approved by the Federation Council on April 2. Many Russians bypass the blocking of prohibited networks, which helps resources earn from advertising (from 50 to 90% of revenue). The new bill plans to limit the profit from advertising for resources that can be used to distribute prohibited content.
Receiving income from advertising by the owners of illegal information resources allows them to create new content, including prohibited information, and maintain user interest in their resources.
The bill was prepared by a group of deputies and senators, including Alexander Khinshtein, Andrei Lugovoi, Vasily Piskarev, and Andrei Klishas, head of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building. In the summer of 2024, Putin also allowed organizations whose founders are foreign government bodies to be declared undesirable.
* Social network is prohibited in Russia
** Meta is recognized as an extremist organization and its activities are prohibited in the Russian Federation
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