Lead
As the Kremlin intensifies its efforts to control the Russian internet, a new investigation reveals that major Russian companies are actively collecting data on users of virtual private networks (VPNs), tools that allow access to globally blocked websites. The report, published by the advocacy group RKS Global, suggests that this data could be accessed by security services, raising concerns about the safety of millions of Russians who rely on VPNs to bypass state censorship.
Coverage Comparison
The findings were covered by both the BBC and The Guardian, each offering distinct perspectives on the broader implications of Russia's internet crackdown. The BBC focused on the human impact, highlighting the experiences of ordinary Russians navigating daily disruptions. The Guardian's investigation, meanwhile, centered on the technical and legal dimensions, detailing how VPN use is becoming an aggravating factor in criminal cases.
Key Claims
Widespread Data Collection by Russian Apps
According to the RKS Global investigation, which analyzed 30 popular Russian apps, 22 of them actively detect whether a user is on a VPN or has one installed. These apps include those operated by major financial institutions like T-Bank and Sberbank, as well as the search engine Yandex and the social media platform VKontakte. The report states that most of these apps retain the data on their servers, where it could be accessed by security services. "The level of intrusion into the device can be very high," the researchers noted, warning that "any Android app released by Russian companies for the Russian market may now be spying."
VPN Use as a Criminal Aggravating Factor
The Guardian reported that VPNs have become an aggravating factor in criminal cases in Russia, with courts treating their use as a circumstance that can worsen a defendant's situation. This development aligns with the broader trend of authorities taking "far greater measures to track these users, who may be at risk of criminal penalties," as stated in the RKS Global investigation.
Kremlin's Push to Isolate the Russian Internet
Both outlets highlighted the Kremlin's gradual effort to cut its citizens off from the global internet. The Guardian described a "relentless effort" to throttle access to global platforms, while the BBC noted widespread disruptions to mobile internet and restrictions on global messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. These actions are part of a broader strategy that has seen the promotion of a state-backed Russian messenger called MAX, which is believed to have broad surveillance capabilities, as reported by multiple sources.
Perspectives
Official Russian Position
Russian officials insist that restrictions on communication are in the interests of public safety. They claim that mobile internet blackouts disorient Ukrainian attack drones, though such attacks have continued even in areas where the internet has been switched off, as noted by the BBC. President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged the disruptions, describing them as related to "operational work to prevent terrorist attacks."
Citizens' Experience
On the ground, Russians are feeling the impact. The BBC reported on petitioners outside the presidential administration office in Moscow, calling on Putin to end the crackdown. One woman, Yulia, who owns a catering company, described how blocked websites and messengers have hurt her business: "We are losing money every time there is a blocking of the internet, a blocking of [messengers] Telegram and WhatsApp. My business is entirely on the internet." The fear of reprisal is palpable, with Yulia admitting, "Very scared. I'm shaking."
Industry and Expert Views
Experts like Mazay Banzaev, founder of the open-source VPN company Amnezia, argue that the data collection goes beyond mere detection. In comments reported by The Guardian, Banzaev said: "It's one thing if Russian IT companies were to 'catch' users the moment they visit a site with a VPN enabled. It is quite another when even a closed application continues scanning the phone for VPN usage." This level of surveillance, he suggests, further narrows the options for Russians to interact with the rest of the world, making such interactions "increasingly fraught with risk."
As these restrictions and the accompanying surveillance become more entrenched, a sense of uncertainty and discontent is growing among citizens. The BBC reported that "restrictions and repression are beginning to feel like the new normal" in Russia, with people adapting to a reality where internet freedom is increasingly curtailed.