tech
March 12, 2026
Unexplained Moscow internet blackouts spark fears of web censorship plan
Kremlin appearing to ramp up control over internet, as it tests new ‘whitelist’ restrictions and pushes people to state-owned app
TL;DR
- Internet services have been disrupted in Moscow and St. Petersburg for about a week.
- The Kremlin claims the outages are for 'security reasons' and will persist as long as necessary.
- Sales of walkie-talkies have increased by 27%, and pagers by 73%, as people seek alternative communication methods.
- Activists believe this may be a test of a 'whitelist' system that would restrict internet access to government-approved sites.
- Russia ranked first globally for internet disruptions in 2025, according to Top10VPN.
- The shutdowns have impacted courier services, taxi apps, and retail businesses, with estimated losses of 1bn roubles per day.
- Lawmakers in the State Duma have also experienced mobile network and wifi outages.
- The disruptions coincide with a crackdown on online spaces, including blocks on WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, and potential restrictions on Telegram.
- Authorities may gain the ability to limit VPN traffic within six months.
- A state-backed 'super-app' called Max, modeled on China's WeChat, is being promoted to Russians.
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