Russians looking for a way to bypass state-imposed internet restrictions are facing fewer options as the government intensifies its crackdown on VPN services.
Last week, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s internet regulatory authority, instructed three major app stores to remove VPN apps from public access. This move is part of a broader effort to suppress dissent and prevent the Russian public from accessing uncensored information, as approximately one in four Russians rely on VPNs to bypass government surveillance.
The VPN ban marks the latest escalation in Russia’s ongoing digital censorship efforts. TechRadar reports that over 50 VPNs previously available in Russia have been blocked from the Google Play Store. Despite Google’s resistance to Russia’s censorship demands, the trend of removing VPNs from major app stores signals a worrying increase in digital restrictions within the country.
A Strategic Effort to Block Uncensored Information
Alexey Kozliuk, chair of the VPN Guild, an industry association, warns that the government’s actions are part of a coordinated strategy to sever citizens’ access to uncensored information and secure communication tools. As Russia continues to tighten its grip on the digital space, access to independent news and unfiltered online resources is becoming increasingly difficult for its citizens.
