Digital Life in Russia Increasingly Interrupted by Wartime Internet Disruptions
VLADIVOSTOK,RUSSIA – Daily life for many Russians is now punctuated by frequent disruptions to internet and messaging services,as authorities tighten control over the digital sphere amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Residents report intermittent outages affecting popular platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, alongside a concerted push to adopt a domestically-developed messaging app, MAX, raising concerns about surveillance and data security.
Marina, a resident of Vladivostok, recounted a recent instance in october when Telegram was entirely unavailable, hindering her and her colleagues’ work. Neither Telegram nor WhatsApp are included on the government’s approved “white list” of interaction services.
The government is actively promoting MAX, a Russian messaging service, and mandated its preinstallation on all new smartphones sold in Russia starting in September. MAX developers claim 50 million registered users, though Mediascope data indicates approximately 48 million monthly users in October, with an average of 18.9 million daily users – significantly lower than WhatsApp’s 81 million and Telegram’s 68 million. MAX openly states it will share user data with authorities upon request and does not employ end-to-end encryption, leading critics to label it a surveillance tool.
State institutions and businesses are being encouraged to transition to MAX, a directive met with resistance. Marina stated her employer is urging MAX adoption,but she and others contacted by the Associated Press have no plans to install it.
Experts suggest the government’s strategy aims to discourage access to independent information. “The authorities’ strategy appears to be to make it challenging for average users to access ‘alternative content’ so that they eventually stop seeking it,” explained Denis Volkov,director of the Levada Center,Russia’s leading independent pollster.
Many Russians appear resigned to the restrictions. As Volkov observed, many view them “the same way they feel about the weather: Ultimately, you can do nothing about it.”
Some individuals attempt to circumvent the blocks using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), but these are also frequently blocked, requiring constant updates. Mikhail Klimarev, executive director of the Internet Protection Society, noted the internet’s crucial role in the Russian economy – from supply chain logistics to transportation – making a complete shutdown impractical.
Though, Klimarev anticipates further restrictions, including potential total blocks on Telegram and WhatsApp, and other unforeseen measures. “Honestly,I’m watching it all with raised eyebrows. They seem to have come up with everything already,and they’re still coming up with something more,” he said.
