Russia Intensifies Digital Surveillance: Viber Blocked Amidst Escalating Censorship
In a move reflecting Russia’s tightening grip on digital communication, authorities cite Viber’s alleged spread of destabilizing content as justification for the ban.
In a continued effort to exert control over information dissemination within its borders, Russia has blocked access to the messaging service Viber.
The decision, announced by Roskomnadzor, Russia’s telecommunications oversight agency, attributes the ban to multiple alleged legal violations by the platform, including the spread of content deemed to threaten state security.
According to Roskomnadzor, Viber has been used for purposes ranging from terrorism and extremism to drug trafficking and the distribution of misinformation.
These accusations come in conjunction with a prosecutorial investigation into the platform’s supposed role in destabilizing Russia's socio-political order, as reported by the state news agency Tass.
Since 2018, Russian regulations have mandated that operators of communication platforms retain user data, including calls, messages, and multimedia, with the added requirement to provide these to intelligence services upon request.
Critics argue that such measures grossly infringe upon the privacy of correspondence.
The move against Viber follows a broader pattern of escalating censorship since Russia’s military actions against Ukraine commenced.
A striking illustration of this trend was the fine imposed on Viber last year over its refusal to delete content that allegedly discredited the Russian military, in defiance of regulatory demands pertaining to the narrative around the conflict instigated by President Vladimir Putin.
Viber now joins a growing list of digital platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Signal, which have been blocked in Russia.
Access to these services is only possible through the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), reflecting the increasing isolation of Russia’s internet from the global digital community.
This strategic clampdown on digital communication underscores the Kremlin’s commitment to controlling the flow of information and suppressing dissent, as it tightens the screws on internet freedoms and employs digital platforms as pawns in its wider geopolitical game.
The decision, announced by Roskomnadzor, Russia’s telecommunications oversight agency, attributes the ban to multiple alleged legal violations by the platform, including the spread of content deemed to threaten state security.
According to Roskomnadzor, Viber has been used for purposes ranging from terrorism and extremism to drug trafficking and the distribution of misinformation.
These accusations come in conjunction with a prosecutorial investigation into the platform’s supposed role in destabilizing Russia's socio-political order, as reported by the state news agency Tass.
Since 2018, Russian regulations have mandated that operators of communication platforms retain user data, including calls, messages, and multimedia, with the added requirement to provide these to intelligence services upon request.
Critics argue that such measures grossly infringe upon the privacy of correspondence.
The move against Viber follows a broader pattern of escalating censorship since Russia’s military actions against Ukraine commenced.
A striking illustration of this trend was the fine imposed on Viber last year over its refusal to delete content that allegedly discredited the Russian military, in defiance of regulatory demands pertaining to the narrative around the conflict instigated by President Vladimir Putin.
Viber now joins a growing list of digital platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Signal, which have been blocked in Russia.
Access to these services is only possible through the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), reflecting the increasing isolation of Russia’s internet from the global digital community.
This strategic clampdown on digital communication underscores the Kremlin’s commitment to controlling the flow of information and suppressing dissent, as it tightens the screws on internet freedoms and employs digital platforms as pawns in its wider geopolitical game.
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