Russian authorities launch fresh censorship drive against VPNs

Russia has intensified its "great crackdown" on digital freedoms by launching a significant censorship drive targeting Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

According to the country’s digital minister, the recent offensive aims to drastically reduce VPN usage and block access to various unidentified foreign platforms.

These tools have long been utilised by citizens to bypass state-mandated internet controls and censorship. In recent months, this campaign has manifested through blocked mobile internet and the jamming of major messenger services in Moscow and other metropolitan areas.

The government has also granted itself expansive new powers to restrict mass communications, citing the persistent failure of foreign entities to comply with domestic laws.

Following the systematic blocking of popular international services such as WhatsApp and Telegram, Russia has introduced a controversial domestic social media application named "Max".

Unlike its international predecessors, "Max" lacks end-to-end encryption, a feature that has sparked deep concerns regarding privacy and state-sponsored digital surveillance.

Baptiste Robert, the CEO of Predicta Lab and a prominent cybersecurity researcher, told AFP: "Any data that passes through this application can be considered to be in the hands of its owner, and in this case, the hands of the Russian state."

By mid-January 2026, authorities had already blocked more than 400 VPNs, representing a 70 per cent increase over the previous year.

The Russian government maintains that these measures are essential for national security and the enforcement of local data regulations.

However, international human rights groups argue that the transition to unencrypted platforms like "Max" effectively eliminates digital anonymity for millions of users.

As the 2026 censorship drive continues, digital rights advocates remain focused on how these restrictions will impact the flow of independent information within the country.