For years, Russian authorities have been cultivating the concept of a “sovereign Internet,” a controlled environment where citizens can access information that is filtered and monitored by the government. This initiative has manifested through a series of measures aimed at tightening the grip on digital communication, including stricter regulations on major tech companies like Google and Facebook, the development of advanced surveillance tools, and the throttling of popular platforms such as YouTube. A significant milestone in this endeavor was reached recently when the government took decisive action against two of the country’s most widely used messaging applications.
On February 11, Roskomnadzor, the regulatory body responsible for overseeing Internet activities in Russia, removed WhatsApp from the National Domain Name System. This move effectively erased the app from the Russian digital landscape, a decision confirmed by WhatsApp’s parent company, which expressed concern over the implications for over 100 million users. The company stated, “Trying to isolate over 100 million people from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia.”
Just two days prior, users of Telegram, the second most popular messaging app, experienced significant slowdowns, prompting officials to impose fines on the platform for alleged non-compliance with Russian law. Alena Epifanova, a cyber researcher at the German Council on Foreign Relations, noted that this marked the first instance of regulators effectively deleting multiple websites from the Russian domain system. She remarked, “It was just a matter of time,” indicating a clear trajectory toward a more isolated and controlled Internet environment.
<h2 class="wswh2″>Max-imum Control
In response to the Telegram throttling, Pavel Durov, the app’s creator, criticized the government’s actions, suggesting that the restrictions were designed to push citizens toward a state-controlled messaging app, Messenger Max. This app is envisioned as the cornerstone of a super-app that would streamline various services while simultaneously exerting control over users. Over the past year, the Russian government has heavily promoted Max, which is developed by VK, the country’s leading social media platform, founded by Durov himself. The CEO of VK is notably the son of a prominent Kremlin official.
As authorities work to create an alternative to YouTube, the strategy appears to be to frustrate users of WhatsApp and Telegram, thereby nudging them toward Max. Epifanova explained, “As long as you have alternatives that work, people won’t move to another platform.” The government’s approach seems to hinge on the idea that by limiting access to popular apps, they can compel users to adopt Max, regardless of their political affiliations or concerns about fairness.
Sarkis Darbinyan, a Russian lawyer and advocate for Internet freedom, expressed surprise at the swift targeting of Telegram, especially given its growing popularity among users, including those disseminating information about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He suggested that political motivations may have taken precedence over other considerations, possibly to showcase the success of the national messenger Max.
<h2 class="wswh2″>Behind The Kremlin (Fire)Walls
The recent mass removal of websites from the National Domain System represents a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to control digital information. According to On The Line, an Internet freedom organization, 13 domain names were deleted, including those of major news outlets like RFE/RL’s Russian Service, the BBC, and Deutsche Welle. This move is part of a broader strategy that has evolved since 2019, when lawmakers amended existing Internet regulations to grant regulators the authority to impose stringent measures, including the installation of intrusive hardware for monitoring and throttling Internet traffic.
Epifanova highlighted that this week’s actions are a notable shift towards actively implementing DNS tampering, a tactic that had previously been used only in isolated cases. The establishment of a Russian National Domain System, which operates alongside the global Internet framework, allows Roskomnadzor to control which websites are accessible within the country. This parallel system is designed to include only those sites sanctioned by the Russian state.
While Russians can still access blocked websites through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), the government is intensifying efforts to curtail their use. The creation of a sovereign Internet raises concerns about the potential instability of this isolated network, which could further alienate citizens from unfiltered information and pose risks to the broader economy. As Epifanova succinctly put it, “It really is a major step to decouple from the global Internet.”
