Russian authorities unclear on the VPN ban
Although the telecom watchdog announced a restriction on content-promoting VPN services from March 1, Mizulina clarified that VPN services would not be banned.
The Russian authorities have not decided whether to ban VPN services completely, according to Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He stated that there are currently no decisions on this matter. However, the telecommunications watchdog has announced that as of 1 March 2024, there will be restrictions on content that promotes VPN services.
Conflicting information emerged when Yekaterina Mizulina, the head of the Safe Internet League, clarified that the media misinterpreted her comments about the ban on VPN services. Mizulina stated that no ban has been confirmed. Last September, it was announced that the Digital Development Ministry proposed to give Roskomnadzor the authority to block VPN services. This conflicting information has created uncertainty regarding the future of VPN services in Russia.
Why does it matter?
It is important to note that Russia had previously banned using means to bypass access restrictions on illegal content, including VPN services, in February 2020. This ban only applies if VPN services do not restrict access to banned resources. The lack of a definitive decision and the previous ban contribute to the uncertainty surrounding future VPN services in Russia.
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