VPN downloads surge in Russia amid internet restrictions
The number of people in Russia admitting to using a VPN has increased from 23% to 36% since 2022
Russians are increasingly relying on virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access blocked foreign applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram, as the Kremlin tightens restrictions on the internet. For a Moscow interior designer named Irina, a normal day now involves three devices, two messaging apps, and a constant cycle of switching her VPN on and off depending on what she needs to do online.
VPN downloads surge across Russia
According to the BBC, over March alone, the top five VPNs recorded 9.2 million downloads on Google Play. This figure is 14 times higher than in March of last year, according to Moscow-based consultancy firm Digital Budget, as reported in Kommersant. The number of people in Russia admitting to using a VPN has increased from 23% to 36% since 2022, according to pollsters at the Levada Center.
Putin's popularity declines amid war fatigue
These problems appear to come amid a growing political price, particularly as war fatigue and rising costs take their toll. Polling organisation VTsIOM reported that Putin's popularity fell from 75.1% in February to 65.6% in April. This marks the lowest rate since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when the figure stood at around 67%. The drop is notable, given that a parliamentary election is scheduled for September.
State pushes alternative app MAX
State authorities are urging people to use the Russian alternative, called MAX, which was introduced last year and now has more than 85 million daily users. However, some worry the app could be used for surveillance purposes, a claim its developer, VK, denies. People using MAX, including those working at state institutions, reportedly prefer to keep the app on separate devices. Some even remove microphones and cameras from these devices as a precaution.
Putin calls bans 'counterproductive'
Putin has since told the government that relying solely on bans is "counterproductive." A planned surcharge for VPN users on mobile data was also quietly postponed in May.
