Lawmakers approved amendments to broaden a 2012 law aimed at non-governmental organisations to include foreign media. Rights groups fear it could have a chilling effect on the ability of outlets to carry out independent reporting.
The existing regulations force NGOs that have international funding and whose activities are deemed "political" to undergo scrutiny of their finances and staffing, and label themselves as "foreign agents" on paperwork and statements
The Kremlin praised parliament's vote as allowing it to offer a "very harsh" response to attacks on Russian media abroad.
Russia will be able to use the law "to give a timely retaliatory response," he said.
More From This Section
The law could be used against US media such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which receive funding from the US Congress.
Members of parliament have given contradictory statements on whether the law could apply to commercial TV network CNN.
Lawmakers unanimously voted to back the amendments in rushed second and third readings within a few hours today.
The lower house of parliament's deputy speaker Pyotr Tolstoy told the chamber reciprocal measures were "forced" by the actions of the United States, which he earlier said was spitting in Russia's face.
He warned, however, that "the spiral of conflict will not end at this," predicting "further demonisation not only of Russian media but of Russia" in the West, naming Britain.
"Look at the statements the British Prime Minister Theresa May is making," he said, after May on Monday accused Russia of seeking to weaponise information.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also referred to criticism from Britain and Spain as well as the US, complaining that "a whole number of our partners in Europe and across the ocean have nothing better to do than to accuse our media and declare them as foreign agents."
The amendments now need to be passed by the Senate and then be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, after which they will enter force immediately.
Tolstoy told parliament the amendments would not be automatically enforced, but would be selectively applied by the justice ministry.
"You shouldn't think that after this law enters force... all foreign media in Russia will automatically become foreign agents," he told parliament.
"We are making it possible... to take selective retaliatory measures -- that is the idea of the law, and I hope it will be enforced this way."
He denied it will affect any Russian media with foreign funding.
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told journalists: "We are concerned at the new media law."
Amnesty International has warned the law will allow the Russian authorities "to tighten their stranglehold on press freedom."
RT television, which is funded by the Kremlin to give a Russian point of view on international affairs, confirmed Monday it has registered as a foreign agent in the United States, meeting a deadline from the US Department of Justice.
Washington considers RT a propaganda arm of the Kremlin and told it to register its American operation under the Foreign Agents Registration Act aimed at lobbyists and lawyers representing foreign political interests.