Putin's dream of a state-controlled internet is becoming a reality
Russians seeking an online window to the outside world are finding their options rapidly diminishing as Vladimir Putin's government strips app stores of VPNs.
Last week, Roskomnadzor, Russia's internet authority, ordered three major app stores to remove virtual private networks (VPNs) from public availability. Roughly one in four Russians report using VPNs to avoid detection by Russia's pervasive internet monitoring tools—systems designed to suppress dissent within the country.
The VPN bans are the latest in a long series of similar crackdowns. According to TechRadar, more than 50 VPNs available elsewhere are inaccessible in the Russian Google Play Store. This is despite Google showing more resistance than many other app store providers to Russia's censorship demands. Still, the trend signals a worrying shift toward sweeping digital restrictions.
'Russia's increasing push to remove VPN apps from major app stores is part of a coordinated strategy to cut citizens off from uncensored information and secure communication tools,' warns Alexey Kozliuk, chair of the VPN Guild, an industry group.
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