HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Russian citizens and companies may get fined by the state for using SpaceX's Starlink internet.
Analyst John Byrne told Insider it's easier for Russia to fine citizens rather than Starlink.
The new law, proposed by Russia's legislative body the State Duma, seeks to prevent citizens accessing the internet via one of Elon Musk's hundreds of satellites.
Russia has plans to develop its own satellite internet constellation called Sfera, which could be launched in 2024, IntelliNews reported in November.
The project, which is expected to cost 1.5 trillion rubles (around $20 billion), would presumably allow the country to continue to monitor domestic internet traffic, Byrne said.
According to Byrne, if Russian citizens use Musk's satellite constellation, the country could be blocked from monitoring their internet traffic like it does with cellular service.
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