Russia plans to block all VPN services in Russia from March 1, 2024
According to a report by Russia’s Sputnik News Agency, the Russian Federal Communications Commission (RKN) intends to promulgate a new decree, aiming to prohibit the circumvention of blocked services.
The primary intent of this edict is to prevent individuals from accessing websites officially blacklisted by Russian authorities using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or analogous software.
Currently, embargoed sites encompass, but are not limited to, platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter, with a particular emphasis on Instagram.
Russia stipulates that VPNs must not bypass blockaded services, or they will face compulsory removal from stores. “From March 1, 2024, an order will come into force to block VPN services providing access to sites banned in Russia,” Sheikin was quoted as saying by state news agency RIA.
As per the guidelines delineated by the Russian Federal Communications Commission, the distribution of VPN-type software within Russia is permissible and can be availed on platforms like the App Store or Google Play. However, the caveat remains that VPN providers must adhere to federal proscriptions, ensuring the inaccessible nature of websites that Russia has cordoned off. This implies that even while utilizing a VPN, continued access remains interdicted.
Should a VPN provider flout these stipulations, the Russian Federal Communications Commission will enforce the removal of such applications, proscribing their introduction to major app marketplaces.
This new decree is slated to come into effect on March 1st, 2024. Russian Senator Otemshekin particularly highlighted the proscription of Instagram, which is taboo within the Russian Federation.
This ruling will also apply to app stores operating within Russia. For instance, tech giants such as Apple and Google, if non-compliant with removal notifications, might face pecuniary penalties.
In the aftermath of Russia’s blockade of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram last spring, the Russian market witnessed a historic surge in VPN downloads.
Among these, Instagram, a vital platform for Russian users, experienced a deluge of VPN software downloads, as users endeavored to bypass its restrictions post-blacklisting.
The blockades were executed via telecommunications networks, and thus, once authorization was acquired through an assortment of VPN software, reinstated access was feasible.
The emergence of such tools, however, undermined the efficacy of Russian blackouts. Russian iterations of platforms like Instagram failed to amass significant traction among users.
Hence, currently proscribing software that evades these blockades seems a prudent approach, perhaps acting as a catalyst, propelling Russian users towards domestic, alternative platforms.
Via: Reuters
