RKN

Roskomnadzor, short for the Federal Service for Supervising Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, is a federal executive body responsible for oversight of the media, information technology and telecommunications in Russia. It operates under the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media and is headquartered in Moscow. The agency was established in 2008 as part of a government reorganization to supervise the mass media and telecom sectors.

Its mandate includes regulating and supervising traditional and online mass media, telecommunications networks, and information technology services; enforcing federal laws governing information dissemination, personal data protection, and mass communications; and maintaining the Register of banned websites. Roskomnadzor can issue warnings, impose administrative fines, require removal of information, and order access restrictions or blocking of websites and online services in accordance with Russian law.

In practice, Roskomnadzor acts as a central authority in Russia’s internet governance, providing guidance to media outlets and enforcing content restrictions through regulatory actions. The agency coordinates with other government bodies and law enforcement on investigations related to information security, data localization and compliance with state policy. Its activities are routinely discussed in the context of debates over censorship, digital rights and the regulatory environment for online platforms in Russia.