- Days after blocking Telegram, Russia also restricts WhatsApp and YouTube
- Censors reportedly use a mix of DNS blocking and DPI techniques
- VPNs can bypass the blocks, but bypass tools are also limited
Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube have all been blocked in Russia over the past three days as authorities step up efforts to push state-controlled alternatives.
Cybersecurity experts told TechRadar that the platforms are likely to be restricted via the country’s national Domain Name System (DNS). Often described as “the phone book of the Internet,” DNS helps connect web browsers to the specific websites users request.
By deleting or redirecting these domain names, the system does not reach the required IP address, forcing users to bypass the DNS resolver via a VPN.
Cybersecurity researcher Łukasz Olejnik suggested on X that Roskomnadzor used this approach because it lacks the capacity to throttle Telegram, YouTube and WhatsApp simultaneously. Instead, the authorities completely blocked the easier targets by removing them from the DNS. he wrote.
Sarkis Darbinyan, a Russian cyberlawyer and RKS Global expert, warned that DNS manipulation – which is relatively easy to circumvent – is just one tool in Roskomandzor’s arsenal.
Speaking to TechRadar, Darbinyan also highlighted the use of “TSPU” (Technical Measures for Countering Threats) equipment, which utilizes Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology.
DPI gives authorities detailed insight into users’ browsing activity, allowing censors to selectively drop data packets tied to targeted services. While VPNs can bypass these DPI-enabled blocks, authorities are increasingly targeting the anti-censorship tools themselves.
A push against state-controlled apps
Darbinyan describes the latest wave of restrictions as “predictable” as authorities pursue the “progressive shutdown of all platforms outside the Kremlin’s control.”
“It was clear that the process would continue slowly but steadily until these platforms were completely blocked. What we misjudged, however, was the timing of the crackdown on Telegram,” Darbinyan told TechRadar, noting that experts did not expect a full ban for at least another six months.
Telegram, the first service to be restricted this week, is more than just a messaging app – it’s also an important tool for the Kremlin and pro-war bloggers to distribute propaganda. The ban has proven controversial internally and has even drawn criticism from Russian soldiers.
According to Darbinyan, the Telegram restrictions began the same day VK announced the launch of “private channels” on MAX — a move likely designed to force Telegram’s audience toward the state-backed alternative. MAX, a state-controlled “super-app” modeled after China’s WeChat, must now be pre-installed on every smartphone and tablet sold in Russia.
Developed by VK, the app integrates messaging with government services and banks, although experts warn it holds “enormous surveillance potential.”
What’s next for digital rights in Russia?
Experts monitoring Russia’s digital landscape expect censorship to only intensify in the coming months. Website blocks are expected to expand to more services as authorities tighten their grip ahead of general elections scheduled for September.
As TechRadar previously reported, Russia has entered an aggressive new phase in its fight against VPNs. To support this, Roskomnadzor is set to allocate 2.27 billion rubles (~$29 million) to develop an AI-powered filtering system. This is designed to automate the detection and blocking of both prohibited content and encrypted VPN connections.
Darbinyan believes that this is only the beginning of a total consolidation of the national Internet. He told TechRadar that he expects any service that “doesn’t store user data locally and doesn’t cooperate with the Russian security services” to be blocked within the next few years.
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