In the regions of Russia, the number of complaints about VPN service blockages has increased over the past day (the technology allows providing a network connection over another network, thereby indicating a different, not the actual location of the user).
In the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (RKN), it was stated that the decision to restrict access to websites that disseminate information about circumvention methods of blocking prohibited content in the country, the department will make independently.
According to “Vedomosti”, according to a representative of the RKN, this right is now fixed by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation and judicial authorities. At the same time, from July 2023, the country has banned the dissemination of information about bypass methods of blocking.
The Federation Council previously stated that from March 1, 2024, an order comes into force, according to which VPN services providing access to unlawful information will be blocked in all digital app stores. In particular, in the Play Market and AppStore, RIA “Novosti” clarified.
In the opinion of State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein, it is likely a legislative novelty that implies restrictions on search results for VPN services that do not filter prohibited information.
In the context of the situation with blockages, the HideMy.name service filed a lawsuit in Moscow against the RKN, demanding to lift restrictions from it. The plaintiff company explains its position by the fact that HideMy.name is not included in the registry of prohibited services.