The Russian authorities are tightening the population’s access to VPN applications and VoIP telephony. He wrote that this measure is “almost certainly” aimed at limiting citizens’ access to independent Russian and international media, as well as simplifying the work of the security service in monitoring Russian citizens. The British Ministry of Defence in an open intelligence report on Saturday.
The British report, citing independent Russian media, said that several VPN apps were removed from the Russian version of the App Store on July 4, after pressure from Russia's communications, information technology, telecommunications and media watchdog, Roskomnadzor.
In March of this year, Roskomnadzor was allowed to block VPN services without going to court.
Roskomnadzor justifies this action by saying that the apps contain or transmit content that is illegal in Russia.
On July 4, it was also announced that the Russian security service FSB had demanded that Russian telecom operators stop sending VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephone calls.
From the British side, the reasoning put forward by the FSB is considered credible. In fact, as the British write, the aim is likely to increase the ability of the Russian authorities to monitor and restrict the communications of citizens and private companies.
Demand for VNP services surged after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022, and Russian authorities restricted access to some Western social media.
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