Russia escalates internet crackdown, says curbs are temporary

Kremlin defends widespread internet shutdowns as a temporary security measure against drone threats, despite significant public disruption.

Kremlin defends widespread internet shutdowns as a temporary security measure against drone threats, despite significant public disruption. | Contesto: cronaca

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  • Russia escalates internet crackdown, says curbs are temporary

Contesto

The Kremlin announced on Tuesday that widespread restrictions on mobile internet access across Russia, which officials conceded have caused significant disruption for citizens, are temporary security measures necessary to counter the threat of Ukrainian drone attacks. The statement came as authorities confirmed the mobile internet in Moscow was shut down for nearly three weeks in March, with similar blocks regularly imposed elsewhere in the country. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov framed the sweeping controls as a defensive imperative. "These restrictions are needed for security reasons," he stated, directly linking the policy to the ongoing conflict. "They are temporary in nature and will be lifted once it is safe to do so." The justification marks a formal escalation in the state's management of information infrastructure under the guise of military necessity, applying a tactic previously used in specific conflict zones to the capital and beyond. The scale of the disruption is unprecedented for a peacetime capital, affecting millions in Moscow for an extended period. While the government has a long history of throttling or blocking specific platforms and websites, a complete shutdown of mobile internet in the political and economic heart of the nation represents a significant intensification. The move disrupts not only daily communication and commerce but also the flow of independent information, as many Russians rely on mobile data to access virtual private networks (VPNs) and news sources outside state-controlled media. Analysts note that the policy of intermittent, geographically targeted blackouts has been a feature of Russia's domestic security approach for years, particularly in regions bordering Ukraine and in areas of civil unrest. However, the explicit, nationwide rationale of drone mitigation is new. Military experts confirm that commercial mobile networks can theoretically be used for targeting and guidance by low-cost drones, a tactic employed by both sides in the conflict. This technical reality provides a veneer of legitimacy to a policy with profound implications for digital rights and civilian life. The Kremlin's assurance that the measures are...

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Categoria: cronaca