Russia to join China in banning VPNs, also new regs for chat apps
By David Flynn, August 1 2017
IN BRIEF | Russia will ban VPN apps from November 1st, joining China in a crackdown of software and cloud-based systems used to access websites with meet with the state's disapproval.
Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor is said to have a blacklist of thousands of web sites.
A second bill signed by President Vladimir Putin will require that chat and messaging apps identify users through their phone number as of January 1, 2018.
The moves are seen as ways to enforce government censorship ahead of the March 2018 presidential elections, blocking websites containing anti-Putin information as well as discouraging the use of online chat and messaging software to organise anti-Government protests and pro-reform rallies.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1446
24 Apr 2016
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QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1446
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1446
24 Apr 2016
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And no, banning websites is not much worse since YOU COULD ACCESS IT USING VON FOR FREE. Which are now banned in Russia.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1446
Fine, you advocate for unlawful way to overcame banning and use illegal sites as per state point of view. Fair enough. Well, may be this is the very nature of Ukrainian people and we clearly see results there but point is - Russia trying to control who doing what while Ukraine trying to block access to information unwanted by government. As I said above IMHO both are attacks on freedom, but I see blocking sites is far severe one just because 90% of users technically not savvy enough to overcame blocking.
FYI - even if they block VPN there are still PLENTY of technical methods to overcame it. Trust me - I am in IT for 30 years.
24 Apr 2016
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So the Russian Government blocking both.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1446
22 Mar 2018
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[Deleted: off-topic]
24 Apr 2012
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In line with this policy, several of your comments today have been removed.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Mar 2016
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04 Aug 2017
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Mr Putin is, in my opinion and in the opinion of many of my colleagues, a strong and decisive leader. He is loved by the Russian people and for good reason.
The administrative malaise which is the hallmark of the Australian polity is nowhere to be seen in Mr Putin's fine country.
24 Apr 2016
Total posts 23
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