They Kept the Internet, Removed the Freedom

Forwarded From Novaya-Europe: Stories

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How the internet was “rolled back” in Russia, who profits from its restrictions, and whether they can be bypassed. A complete guide to Runet blockages

🔵Over the past more than ten years, a system of internet blockages has gradually been built in Russia. The turning point was the attempt to block Telegram in 2018: back then, the state acted crudely, disrupting major services while the messenger itself kept functioning.

🔵After that, the authorities turned to more sophisticated tools. The “sovereign internet” law required telecom operators to disclose the structure of their networks and install special equipment, TSPU, through which traffic now passes. As specialists note, the situation looks like this: companies that built the internet’s infrastructure are being forced to participate in restricting it — “it’s like telling a doctor to kill a person.”

❓ Today, the blocking system includes both old methods like IP filtering and more complex traffic analysis technologies. How exactly is it structured? Who runs the filtering, and where are the control centers located? Which companies are involved in creating this infrastructure? And do users still have a chance to bypass the restrictions?

➡️ The answers to these questions are in our guide.

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