Ban on advertising of blocking circumvention tools: Roskomnadzor tightens control

Published: 05 March 2024, 12:11 (Europe/Moscow)

On March 1, a ban on the dissemination of information on ways to circumvent blocking of banned Internet resources came into force. This means that advertising of VPN services that do not filter traffic is now recognized as inadmissible. Roskomnadzor has been authorized to add pages advertising such services to the Unified Register of Prohibited Sites.

Criteria for blocking include the presence of information on the resource that helps to access already blocked sites or learn how to do so, as well as materials that promote the use of ways to circumvent blocking and argue their benefits.

Some well-known platforms, including tech forum 4PDA and online school Skillfactory, have already removed information about VPNs. This includes network configuration guides and lists of services for bypassing restrictions.

In addition, there was information about the possible blocking of Wikipedia in Russia. One of the articles on the popular resource strongly recommends the use of ways to bypass blocking, which could lead to its blocking in accordance with the law on VPNs.

These steps are considered part of the state's efforts to ensure control over the information space and protection from unwanted content. However, they have raised concerns among some activists and defenders of Internet freedom, who see them as limiting access to information and freedom of expression.