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 1447
It is strange to read that Russia (country opposed itself to USA) restrict Internet freedom while there was no single word that Ukraine (country that try to associate itself with USA) did so a while ago. So I questioning how much censorship we have right here in Australia?
24 Apr 2016
Total posts 23
I can't find any evidence that supported your fake claims about VPN censorship in Ukraine. I think it's time to actually provide evidence for your fake claims before spamming the comment section. Especially when google is only 2 clicks away.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1447
I never said "VPN" - they banned plenty of social sites and try to restrict stuff like youtube.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1447
And IMHO banning sites much worse - banning VPN (FYI I never advocate it) is fighting with anonymity while banning sites is fighting with information. Both are attacks on freedom, no questions about that though. It is just notice that when it happens in USA's minion no-one mentioned it and all immediately alarmed if it happens in Russia.
24 Apr 2016
Total posts 23
I'm not sure if you know what VPN is, but can allowed you to access banned websites in your country, banning the VPN would mean that the access to the banned websites would be impossible. Ukraine never banned VPN, Russia did.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1447
I am IT supporter installing and using VPN on daily basis.
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
Total posts 23
The Russian Government are banning VPN and WEBSITES that doesn't support Putin presidency.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1447
Read carefully my messages - I am not supporting blocking VPN by Russian government. I stated that in Ukraine they already blocked websites that not supporting Poroshenko presidency. On top of that they have internal websites like mirotvoretc that condemned by all democracies. However there was no fuss here about it. Why? IMHO because Ukraine is minion of USA. So I questioning how much freedom of information do we have here? Other examples? Assange.
22 Mar 2018
Total posts 2
[Deleted: off-topic]
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Mar 2016
Total posts 27
Is this in response to their own meddling in "others" Elections?
24 Apr 2016
Total posts 23
Let's just say it would be easier for them to manipulate their citizens when they are off grid.
04 Aug 2017
Total posts 6
I think that too many people, including some of the fine men and women in this forum, need to realize that not everything which is published in the MSM about Mr Putin is either fair or balanced commentary. Dare I say it, it is fake news.
24 Apr 2016
Total posts 23
I'm all about freedom of speech CT and press, banning websites and VPN already make anyone lose my respect. Including Putin, but of course, feel free to move to China or Russia and enjoy the censorship.
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