Russia may start banning VPNs

[frogboy]

According to certain online sources, the Russian government is working on a bill which requires VPNs and other anonymizing services to stop providing access to blocked domains. If they don’t, they will also end up being blocked. Search engines are also on the black list if they link to the banned websites.

Read More. Russia may start banning VPNs

 

[viktik]

i have a simple idea. ban internet. easy to do.
problem solved

there will be only "Russian federation cyber cafe" if people want access internet.

 

[Winter Soldier]

Strange concept of freedom they have...

 

[frogboy]

Strange concept of freedom they have...

It sure is, I think the right phrase may be almost non-existent freedom.

 

[conceptualclarity]

Could they pull this off from a technical standpoint?

 

[Winter Soldier]

It sure is, I think the right phrase may be almost non-existent freedom.

Yes, to implement the censorship, the control of information is a fundamental requirement.
Once the technological infrastructure is set up, it takes a moment to "press the button" and implement the filtering and censorship of information and to put in place such infrastructure is the first, crucial step towards censorship.

 

[Arequire]

Pretty much expected. The Kremlin's been trying to put a stranglehold on internet usage in the country for years. Still haven't achieved the same level as China but it's getting there.

 

[Ink]

Strange concept of freedom they have...

No country has Freedom.

 

[BugCode]

You have to made your "own" freedom. Maybe pointless post, i can't explain it better forum like this.

 

[Kuttz]

One can argue that banning VPN is against freedom of its users which is true in one level but considering that many people exploit the VPN networks for illegal activities, it is difficult to criticize the government move of banning the service as well

 

[In2an3_PpG]

Sure glad i don't live in Russia.

 

[frogboy]

One can argue that banning VPN is against freedom of its users which is true in one level but considering that many people exploit the VPN networks for illegal activities, it is difficult to criticize the government move of banning the service as well

Fair point but I would suggest most VPN users just use one for privacy, I know I do because my Government collects all MetaData and stores it for two years and I do not do anything illegal.

 

[Kuttz]

Fair point but I would suggest most VPN users just use one for privacy, I know I do because my Government collects all MetaData and stores it for two years and I do not do anything illegal.

Yes, most VPN users use the service for legitimate purposes the problem is those people who misuse VPN services often use it for very dangerous activities like terrorism, spy activities for rival nations etc those few people act is enough to throw sand towards all legitimate VPN service users soup.

 

[Arequire]

Yes, most VPN users use the service for legitimate purposes the problem is those people who misuse VPN services often use it for very dangerous activities like terrorism, spy activities for rival nations etc those few people act is enough to throw sand towards all legitimate VPN service users soup.

I think you're more thinking of people who torrent cracked software or script-kiddies using it to launch attacks and hide their communications rather than the other activities mentioned. Legitimate terrorists and spies don't use commercial VPNs and would put way too much at risk by doing so. Trusting that the VPN provider won't spill the beans on your activity when an intelligence agency comes knocking just because it says "No logs" in its privacy policy offers way too much opportunity for exposure.
We've already seen that VPN providers who claim to offer anonymity disregard that notion and willingly cooperate with law enforcement.

 

[conceptualclarity]

but considering that many people exploit the VPN networks for illegal activities, it is difficult to criticize the government move of banning the service as well

I was of the impression that more people use VPNs to evade restrictions by repressive governments than for criminality.

 

[frogboy]

I was of the impression that more people use VPNs to evade restrictions by repressive governments than for criminality.

Same here I thought.

 

[Vipersd]

If they ban the usage of VPN services it will be mainly because of terrorism. Russia faces far more threats then it seems and their FSB and other security services are overwhelmed with tasks to solve.

Also there is economic issue, that Russia wants it's own services to be sold to their Internet users. That's why the Yandex sued google and such. Russia is growing market so why give money to forin companies when you have yours.

 

[jamescv7]

Well there's a lot of reason why Russia will block like VPN; and simply due to numerous historical issues.

Russia has already suffered conflicts and everything wants to be under controlled. Nearly same fate like in North Korea.

 

[509322]

You could call it Neo-Sovietism, but that would be a stretch and isn't really fair. Governments the world-over want to exactly the same thing - if not introduce even greater controls. VPNs and encryption of all types have been on the radar for a long time.

 

[Vipersd]

Encryption and VPN and other similar services are necessary due to grose negligence of the government in any country. Overstepping authorities given to them led the way to mass usage of encryption. On the other hand it makes resolving crime and terrorism so difficult that it is understandable why security services want to create backdors or ban usage of encryption and VPN. Also government's stoped resolving the main causes for crime and terrorism and focused on end solutions which doesn't have desired effect.