Kremlin appearing to ramp up control over internet, as it tests new ‘whitelist’ restrictions and pushes people to state-owned app
Muscovites have been turning to walkie-talkies and pagers amid unexplained disruptions to internet services in the capital, as the Kremlin appears to ramp up control over online activity in Russia.
Users in central Moscow, as well as in St Petersburg, first reported difficulties accessing mobile internet about a week ago. Many said they were unable to load websites or apps, while some lost service altogether, leaving them unable to make phone calls.
The Kremlin said this week that the outages were being introduced to “ensure security” and would remain in place “as long as additional measures are necessary”, without providing further details about the reasons behind the restrictions.
For months, users across Russia have complained about widespread mobile internet shutdowns, though the disruptions have drawn far less scrutiny than those now affecting Moscow’s inner centre, the country’s political and economic hub.
