Russia is intensifying the blocking of VPN services and aiming to disable internet telephony to restrict citizens' access to truthful information and enhance surveillance, according to British intelligence.
The Ministry of Defence of Britain stated that Roskomnadzor demanded the removal of several VPN applications from the Russian App Store, alleging they provide access to "illegal content."
The goal of these actions is likely to limit Russians' access to independent Russian and international media and to facilitate easier surveillance by Russian intelligence agencies.
Additionally, the FSB is forcing Russian operators to deactivate VoIP internet telephony, claiming it will help eliminate network fraud. However, in reality, this is aimed at expanding the authorities' capabilities to monitor and restrict communications of private individuals and organizations.
British intelligence emphasizes that these measures align with Russia's efforts to control its internal situation and restrict citizens' access to information that diverges from the Kremlin's official narratives.
