The Russian government is persisting in its effort to crack down on VPN companies operating within its borders.
This isn’t unexpected considering the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. VPN usage has surged because of censorship imposed on Russian citizens by the government. Notably, Russian Internet providers are also banning popular websites and social media apps.
TechRadar reports that VPN installs in Russia increased by a massive 11,000 percent after the Instagram ban, hitting an all-time high.
We’d love to hear your opinions on this situation. Share your perspective on the Russian government’s crackdown on VPN companies in the comments section below.
Feel free to drop a comment below this post!
Russian Government Continues Crackdown on VPNs
TorrentFreak reports that Russian authorities have confirmed an ongoing crackdown. They aim to prevent citizens from accessing VPN providers. The Russian government is collaborating extensively with major telecoms to restrict access to VPNs.
Roscomnadzor, the Russian Telecoms regulator, asserts that measures are being implemented. Their goal is to limit access to VPN services that violate Russian law.
“Violating Russian law” could involve providing access to any content the government has previously deemed illegal.
At a press conference, a representative from Roscomnadzor made the following statement:
“According to the Law On Communications, methods for bypassing the blocking of illegal content are considered a threat. The Center for Monitoring and Control of the Public Communications Network is taking steps to restrict the operation of VPN services within Russia that violate Russian law.”
While Roscomnadzor assumed the role of supervisor, the government maintained its commitment to solely blocking illegal content. This has been achieved by gradually expanding the definition of what constitutes illegal content.
In recent years, Russia has broadened its blocking powers. This includes torrent sites, streaming sites, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any news platforms that deviate from the Kremlin’s perspective on “factual information.”
As a countermeasure, Russian citizens have been circumventing this censorship. They have utilized VPNs to access an unrestricted view of the global internet. In response, Russia implemented the “VPN Law.” This law prohibits internet tools, including VPNs, that provide access to external information.
NordVPN and Other VPN Companies Respond
Over the past few days, users in Russia have reported difficulty with certain VPN providers. This includes NordVPN, which took the step of removing all its servers from Russia.
Surfshark VPN followed a similar course of action a few months prior. They shut down their Russian servers in response to the Ukrainian invasion.
Russian VPN users are encountering issues with ProtonVPN, Windscribe, Lantern, and similar proxy services. ProtonVPN addressed the problems arising from Russian VPN blocks with a statement on its website.
“We’re currently looking into the issue, but it’s not due to any changes we’ve made. It’s probable that local ISPs and authorities are interfering with VPN connections. If this is the case, we might not be able to resolve these issues. Some servers might still be functional. We’re continuing our efforts to circumvent the block.”
What are your thoughts on the Russian government’s ongoing crackdown on VPN companies? Could we see other countries following suit and implementing similar crackdowns on VPNs?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
For streaming options that are entirely legal and verified, take a look at the popular guides below.
Stay informed about the latest streaming news, reviews, tips, and more. Subscribe to the TROYPOINT Advisor for weekly updates. This Advisor offers all the best cord-cutting advice to maximize your streaming devices and more.
Join over 800,000 other subscribers by clicking the link below.