Steve Rosenberg: Kremlin’s tightening grip on internet fuels public discontent

Near the Kremlin, a group of individuals gathers outside the presidential administration building, seeking to present grievances to President Vladimir Putin. Their aim is to urge an end to the intensified control over Russia’s digital environment. Authorities have implemented measures to limit access to international messaging platforms and caused widespread interruptions in mobile internet connectivity. While submitting petitions to the president remains lawful, it carries risks in an authoritarian setting. People are growing increasingly uneasy, as security personnel from across the street record both the petitioners and the reporter. When asked if she feels fear, Yulia responds, “Very scared. I’m shaking.”

Putin has acknowledged the internet disruptions, framing them as part of “operational efforts to thwart terrorist operations.” He asserts that essential internet services should function uninterrupted. Yulia, who runs a catering business, describes how censorship has impacted her operations. “Our website was inaccessible for periods, and we lost revenue,” she says. “Each time Telegram or WhatsApp is blocked, my business suffers. It’s entirely dependent on internet access—without it, survival is impossible.”

Government justifications and state-backed alternatives

Russian officials argue that restricting communication enhances public safety. They claim mobile internet blackouts confuse Ukrainian drones, though attacks continue even in areas without connectivity. The government also accuses global messaging apps of disregarding Russian data regulations. Access to WhatsApp and Telegram has been heavily curtailed. In response, state regulators are targeting virtual private networks (VPNs) that help bypass these restrictions. The government is promoting MAX, a domestically developed messaging app, as part of its initiative for a “sovereign internet.”

Public skepticism lingers. “Many believe MAX is designed to monitor our conversations,” says former MP Boris Nadezhdin, who contested Putin’s presidency in the past. Columnist Andrei Kolesnikov of Novaya Gazeta adds, “The goal is to separate Russia from the global sphere, as the outside world is seen as harmful to Russian minds.” He notes, “Russia has long been isolated, mainly from the West, which spreads ‘dangerous, progressive, liberal ideas.’ It was always this way.”

Impact on daily life and protests

Despite embracing digital technology, Russians were unprepared for the extent of these restrictions. “It’s more about routine than freedom of speech,” explains activist Yulia Grekova. “People rely on mobile internet for work, services, and family. Without it, life grinds to a halt. That’s why the backlash is so strong.” In Vladimir, 120 miles from Moscow, she recently organized a protest against these measures. “We requested a venue, but officials said none of our 11 proposed sites would be available on the chosen date. They claimed streets would be cleaned.”

When a substitute location was offered, it too was denied, citing risks from drone attacks. Yulia later received a visit from police, who filmed her signing a warning from the prosecutor. “I felt like a terrorist,” she recalls. Similar protests have been blocked in numerous Russian cities, with some citing coronavirus concerns and others citing events like a roller-skating class as reasons. In Vladimir’s center, the taxi app works, and state media is accessible—but Google searches remain elusive.