Tue Sep 10 16:58:14 UTC 2024: ## Russia Invests $650 Million to Boost Internet Censorship, Target VPNs

**MOSCOW** – Russia is set to spend an estimated $650 million over the next five years to upgrade its internet-blocking system, aiming to effectively crack down on VPN usage and bolster censorship efforts.

The Kremlin’s strategy, detailed in the federal project “Cybersecurity Infrastructure,” seeks to modernize its current filtering system, known as TSPU, and install new systems. Authorities believe this will increase the efficiency of VPN blocking by 96%, effectively preventing citizens from accessing geo-restricted content.

“This is a significant investment aimed at achieving a more robust and efficient censorship infrastructure,” commented Stanislav Shakirov, CTO of Russian digital rights group Roskomsvoboda, highlighting the Iranian model of internet censorship that Russia is seemingly adopting.

The move comes amidst a growing trend of VPN usage in Russia, fueled by increased online censorship. Following the invasion of Ukraine, the government has blocked over 100,000 websites in 2022 alone. As a result, citizens have turned to VPNs to access information and bypass restrictions.

While authorities have previously attempted to block VPNs at the IP address and service domain levels, Shakirov explained that more sophisticated anti-censorship technologies, like VPN obfuscation and IP rotation, have proven effective in circumventing these blocks.

The new investment is designed to address these advancements and target VPNs at a protocol level, with a focus on blocking WireGuard and OpenVPN. However, experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of this approach, arguing that more sophisticated VPN services continue to function in Russia.

This investment underscores Russia’s commitment to tightening its grip on the internet and controlling information flow within the country. The ongoing battle between authorities and VPN providers is likely to continue, with both sides employing increasingly advanced tactics in this digital arms race.

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