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Russia slowly trying to splinter its internet from rest of world, analysts say

Telegram is increasingly blocked and mobile internet users face blackouts in effort likened to Iranian shutdowns

Russia slowly trying to splinter its internet from rest of world, analysts say

TL;DR

  • Russia is engaging in a large-scale, gradual effort to splinter its internet from the global network.
  • This involves escalating mobile internet blackouts and restrictions on specific traffic, including the blocking of Telegram.
  • The censorship is described as more opaque and less visible than Iran's shutdowns due to Russia's decentralized internet infrastructure.
  • New government-controlled domestic messaging services, like Max, are being developed to replace blocked apps.
  • Mobile internet has been shut down in parts of the country for at least a year, with only pre-approved sites accessible.
  • Recent shutdowns in Moscow caused widespread disruption, affecting access to banking and phone services.
  • Retailers have reported increased sales of pagers and paper maps as people cope with the blockages.
  • Authorities have justified previous mobile internet outages with excuses like protection against Ukrainian drones.
  • Current shutdowns appear to be more sweeping, with censors testing the economy's resilience under strict restrictions.
  • Analysts predict Moscow shutdowns will become routine and that home networks could eventually be affected.