Russians are turning to private, virtual networks to bypass the government's increasingly tight controls on the country's internet following its invasion of Ukraine. By using VPNs, Russian users can hide their identity and location online to access blocked websites and services while avoiding censorship.
According to data from SensorTower, the top 10 VPN apps on Russia's App Store and Google Play Store collectively gained 6 million downloads from February 24 (the day the invasion of Ukraine began) to March 8. The download rate was a 1,500% increase compared to VPN downloads in the previous 13 days.
Although platforms from companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google were used in the country, Russia has been subject to censorship for years. But even major platforms operate under the threat of being blocked if they broadcast content deemed critical of the Kremlin.
See also: Netflix and TikTok withdraw from Russia
President Vladimir Putin has recently sought to impose even greater control. In 2019, Russia enacted a “sovereign internet” law that gives other authorities the power to disconnect their internet from the rest of the world. At the same time, the Russian government said the law would strengthen the country’s defenses against cyberattacks.
As the invasion of Ukraine continues, the Russian government is trying to further restrict access to foreign platforms. Meta’s Facebook was blocked on March 4th, while access to Twitter is restricted. After the Facebook ban, demand for VPNs increased 10 times above average.
See also: US: Sanctions on Chinese companies that help Russia
According to SensorTower, VPN downloads will continue to increase as the country’s internet restrictions increase. For now, marketplaces like the App Store and Google Play are still available, but that could change in the near future. Specifically, VPN company Surfshark described its weekly sales in Russia as having increased by 3,500% since February 24, noting that the biggest increase was seen on March 5 and 6, when Facebook was blocked. This data shows that people in Russia are looking for ways to avoid government surveillance and censorship.
At the same time, Twitter that encrypts internet traffic. This allows users to mask their online identities and circumvent censorship imposed by the country. In addition, as Russia gradually blocks services, there is a growing list of companies suspending their operations in the country.
Source: cnbc.com
