European Parliament considers blocking Russian media on its networks

The European Parliament is examining a potential ban on access to Russian websites such as Sputnik and RT across its IT infrastructure, POLITICO reports.

Despite EU-wide sanctions on Russian media following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many of these websites remain accessible to Parliament staff and members.

The proposal emerged during a political group leaders’ meeting on October 15, prompted by the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), whose Polish and Italian leaders have publicly condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine. The group requested that “Russian propaganda websites under EU sanctions” be blocked on all Parliament devices and networks.

Latvian MEP Rihards Kols, who submitted the request, called for restrictions on RT, Sputnik, VGTRK, ANO TV Novosti, and other Russian outlets. “This is a matter of information security, institutional coherence, and the credibility of the Parliament’s position against Russian disinformation,” Kols told POLITICO. He added that “the Latvian national media regulator has raised the issue directly with [Parliament] President [Roberta] Metsola.”

If implemented, the measure would align with previous actions taken against platforms such as TikTok, which was blocked on Parliament Wi-Fi and devices in March 2023 over network security concerns.

However, several political group leaders raised concerns that the ban could set a precedent for restricting websites for reasons other than security, while highlighting the technical and legal challenges of enforcing such restrictions.

Parliament President Roberta Metsola is reportedly “investigating” the proposal and reviewing measures adopted by other EU institutions. Kols indicated that “a solution is expected to be proposed in the near future.”

The Parliament’s press office confirmed that the issue will be revisited at a future leaders’ meeting, emphasizing that “the European Parliament takes the protection of its users and their data seriously and implements measures to protect these and its infrastructures.”

By Vafa Guliyeva