Matvienko proposed restricting access to information about abortion on the internet in Russia

Valentina Matvienko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, has proposed changing search engine algorithms so that when users search for information on abortion, they are first shown resources from family support centers and crisis centers for women.

This was reported by Russian media.

Matvienko announced the proposal during a meeting of the Presidential Council on the Implementation of State Demographic and Family Policy.

According to her plan, when searching for information about medical facilities that perform abortions, links to organizations that support pregnant women in difficult life circumstances should appear first in the search results. Only after that will users be offered information from medical institutions about the procedure and its consequences.

Matvienko called on Russian IT companies to support this initiative, stating that “every child’s life saved is a great victory.”

The proposal came amid a worsening demographic situation in Russia. According to official data from Rosstat, 1.222 million children were born in the country in 2024—the lowest number since 1999.

It is also reported that in the first quarter of 2025, the birth rate fell by another 4%, and the total fertility rate dropped to its lowest level in the past two decades. According to demographers’ estimates, the decline in the birth rate continued into 2026.

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