In a move to further tighten its grip on online activity, the Russian government has announced plans to allocate nearly 60 billion roubles ($660 million) over the next five years to enhance its internet censorship system, known as TSPU. This significant investment aims to improve the system’s capabilities to block access to virtual private networks (VPNs) and other online tools used to circumvent government restrictions.
The modernization effort is part of a broader crackdown on free expression in Russia, which has intensified since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The government has been targeting VPNs, which are used by millions of Russians to access independent media and blocked websites. This move is seen as a further attempt to control the narrative and limit access to information that contradicts the government’s official stance.
The TSPU system, developed and controlled by state communications regulator Roskomnadzor, consists of homegrown traffic management tools installed on Russian internet service providers’ networks. The investment will be used to purchase new equipment and software, as well as to develop new signatures and update existing ones to improve the system’s effectiveness.
Digital rights groups have expressed concerns that the enhanced censorship capabilities will make it more difficult for Russians to access a free and open internet. “This doesn’t mean that there won’t be ways to get around these blockings, but of course, it makes it more difficult,” said Stanislav Shakirov of digital rights group Roskomsvoboda.
However, some VPN operators believe that developers and users will find ways to circumvent the restrictions, despite the increased funding. “In this game of cat and mouse – blocking and circumventing blocking – funding is very important, but the motivation of developers and users to get access to a free internet is even more important,” said Mazay Banzaev, operator of the popular free VPN service Amnezia VPN.
The Russian government’s efforts to control online activity have been ongoing for several years, with a focus on targeting opposition media websites, foreign social media platforms, and VPNs. While the government claims that these measures are necessary to protect national security and prevent the spread of illegal content, critics argue that they are part of a broader effort to suppress dissent and limit access to information.
