Russia is experiencing a new wave of digital bans. Over the past week, Roskomnadzor has blocked WhatsApp, Roblox, FaceTime, and Snapchat. In this way, the Russian authorities are openly demonstrating that their policy of isolation is systematic.
This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation.
The formal reason for the blocking was, as usual, a "threat to security." At the same time, attacks on tools for circumventing censorship continue. VPN protocols, which still allowed access to alternative sources of information, are being blocked.
In this way, the Russian authorities have intensified their efforts to build a "sovereign internet" in which the state controls everything: messengers, social networks, gaming platforms, and private communication channels.
Under the guise of "fighting terrorism," Russia is effectively isolating the information space. This is yet another confirmation that today's Russia is a totalitarian state in which the authorities regulate every aspect of citizens' lives — what they read, who they communicate with, and what information they have access to.