blockade Archives

TrendTechie

February 4, 2025

Telegram заблокировал официальный канал торрент-трекера RuTracker

The RuTracker Telegram channel was removed due to alleged copyright violations. Established in 2017, it had over 27,000 subscribers and provided updates on operational issues. After its deletion, it became unavailable, with users receiving a notification about copyright infringement. RuTracker has been permanently blocked in Russia since January 25, 2016, following a lawsuit from publishing houses. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has pledged to improve moderation efforts on the platform.

AppWizard

December 18, 2024

Oman’s Sultanate sends Nintendo with Minecraft to ‘rebuild Gaza’

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 80 percent of the region being destroyed, according to Palestinian and UN estimates. Oman has reportedly sent a shipment of Nintendo Switch consoles to Gaza, which includes the latest edition of Minecraft with customized Omani warriors. This shipment is intended to provide Minecraft credits for Palestinians to "rebuild Gaza" digitally. However, there is uncertainty about whether the Israeli army will allow the shipment into Gaza. Local sources emphasize the importance of such games for coping with psychological stress and envisioning reconstruction. Historically, Palestinians have used Minecraft creatively, such as in 2017 to design public spaces after previous conflicts. Ahmed Ghalib, a structural engineer, noted the need for skilled engineers for meaningful reconstruction efforts, while Ghada Zourob criticized the shipment as inadequate for addressing the urgent needs of Gazans. Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations have intensified, resulting in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths and more than 107,000 injuries, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

AppWizard

December 14, 2024

Russian authorities block Viber messaging app

Russia has officially blocked access to the Signal messaging app, making it non-functional without the use of a VPN. Additionally, Russian authorities are considering a ban on WhatsApp.

TrendTechie

September 18, 2024

Rutracker начал работать в России

RuTracker.org, the largest Russian-language torrent tracker, is now accessible within Russia without the need for circumvention tools. The site, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2024, has over 14 million active users. It was previously blocked by Roskomnadzor in 2013 due to the Internet Intellectual Property Protection Law, but it currently does not appear on Roskomnadzor's registry, suggesting a potential change in its status. In related news, the video hosting platform RUTUBE has launched a monetization program for content creators, introducing a new model for generating revenue based on views on its platform and network.

AppWizard

August 25, 2024

Factbox-Who is Pavel Durov, CEO of messaging app Telegram? By Reuters

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Bourget airport near Paris due to an investigation regarding the lack of moderators on the platform, which authorities believe has allowed criminal activities to flourish. Telegram has not commented on the situation, and there has been no response from the French Interior Ministry or police. Durov, a 39-year-old Russian entrepreneur with an estimated fortune of billion, is a prominent figure in the tech industry, having previously faced government pressure in Russia and relocated to various countries for his business. Telegram has faced scrutiny from European nations over security and data concerns, particularly as it approaches a significant user milestone.

AppWizard

August 25, 2024

Factbox-Who is Pavel Durov, CEO of messaging app Telegram?

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was apprehended at Bourget airport near Paris as part of an investigation into the lack of moderators on the platform, which authorities believe has enabled criminal activities. Telegram has not responded to inquiries, and French officials have not commented. Durov, born in Russia, has an estimated fortune of .5 billion and became a French citizen in 2021 after relocating to Dubai in 2017. He previously faced attempts by Russian authorities to ban Telegram due to non-compliance with a court order for user data access. Telegram's growing influence has raised concerns among European nations regarding security and data breaches.

AppWizard

August 10, 2024

Russia blocks access to Signal messaging app across the country

Russia's state communications authority, Roskomnadzor, has blocked access to the Signal messaging app due to alleged non-compliance with anti-terrorism regulations. Reports indicate that users began experiencing access issues on August 8, with Roskomnadzor stating that the blockade aims to prevent the use of the app for terrorist and extremist purposes. Speculation suggests the disruptions may be related to military actions by Ukraine, as Ukrainian Armed Forces are believed to use Signal for communication. Additionally, there have been reports of YouTube outages in Russia, with users experiencing service interruptions. An anonymous source claims the government has been throttling YouTube since July to shift blame onto Google, while the Kremlin attributes the issues to outdated equipment. YouTube remains a crucial platform for free expression in Russia, utilized by opposition figures and independent media.

AppWizard

August 10, 2024

Russia blocks Signal messaging app, reportedly plans to block WhatsApp

On August 9, Russia's telecommunications regulator, Roskomnadzor, blocked the messaging app Signal due to alleged "violations of Russian law," claiming it was misused for "terrorist and extremist purposes." Users reported issues with Signal starting on August 8, with over 2,200 experiencing difficulties accessing the app. The complaints came from various regions, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Russian government is also reportedly planning to extend restrictions to WhatsApp and may block YouTube entirely by September, although Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied these claims. On August 8, many Russian users experienced a significant outage of YouTube, which has 93 million users in the country. A Moscow court rejected an appeal by Alphabet against a fine for not removing content critical of the Russian armed forces.