Kremlin forcing big firms to join ‘witch-hunt’ against internet rebels, claims report
Summary
Russian authorities are forcing major companies to monitor and collect data on internet users trying to bypass online controls using VPNs, tools that hide a person's location to access blocked sites. This move is part of wider efforts by the Kremlin to limit Russians’ access to the global internet and increase government surveillance.Key Facts
- Russian banks and web platforms are tracking users of VPNs, which hide real locations and allow access to banned websites.
- An investigation looked at 30 popular Russian apps, finding 22 actively detect VPN use and store user data accessible to security services.
- VPN usage is not officially illegal in Russia but is increasingly being treated as a criminal aggravating factor in legal cases.
- Since the war in Ukraine began, the Kremlin has banned platforms like Facebook and Instagram and blocked messaging app Telegram.
- Authorities promote a government-controlled “superapp” called Max, which is believed to have extensive surveillance features.
- Large-scale internet shutdowns have not occurred in Russia, but regional mobile network blackouts and increased online control measures have been implemented.
- The situation marks a shift from passive internet censorship to active surveillance and data gathering on Russian citizens.
- Companies like VKontakte, T-Bank, Sberbank, and Yandex were contacted for comment but no responses were noted in the article.
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