- Russia could block all Google services over data storage issues
- This decision is part of a “soft squeeze” of American technology companies.
- This follows a wider crackdown on Western platforms
Russia is considering a complete ban on all Google services, according to a senior government official, as the country continues to strengthen its grip on the internet.
Andrei Svintsov, a member of the State Duma committee on information policy, reportedly said that many, if not all, Google services could be restricted because the company stores user data outside of Russia. Svintsov says this poses a “serious threat” to the country and its economy, as it allows surveillance of Russian companies. This could then be used to underpin further sanctions against the country.
This is not the first time Svintsov has targeted Google-owned platforms. In August, he suggested that Google Meet could be banned after the service experienced some brief disruptions in the country. At the time, Svintsov said that all Western applications considered a threat to national security could be banned and that those that “can spy on our citizens and send information to Western intelligence services may well be blocked.”
The Russian government has for some time been pushing for foreign technology companies to store Russian user data on servers in the country. With the submission to the Duma of a new bill aimed at strengthening the protection of personal data when transferred abroad, it seems that the government is now ready to take more drastic measures to enforce this principle.
The ultimate goal, Svintsov says, is a “soft expulsion” of American technology out of Russia. For those looking to bypass current and new restrictions, it is becoming increasingly important to use one of the best VPN services.
The digital iron curtain in Russia
This latest threat against Google is part of a broader trend of Russia’s growing digital isolation. Although the government has long restricted the internet, censors have targeted a number of Western platforms in recent months.
In December, it was reported that Russia had blocked access to Roblox, FaceTime and Snapchat, with the country’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor accusing the platforms of hosting “extremist materials” and being used to organize “terrorist activities.”
Popular messaging service WhatsApp is also in the crosshairs of the Kremlin, with the government threatening to ban the app altogether. More than 30 experts from civil society organizations and technology companies condemned Russia’s actions, calling them a “broader campaign against human rights.” In a joint letter, they affirm that “free, private and secure communication is not a privilege, but a fundamental right that must be protected everywhere. »
In addition to blocking access to Western platforms, Russia is also making it harder for its citizens to use tools that can circumvent its censorship. In fact, the government has cracked down on the use of VPNs over the years. In March 2024, he introduced a law to criminalize the dissemination of information about how to circumvent restrictions on the Internet.
This is likely the legal basis behind a wave of takedown orders, which led Apple to remove at least 60 VPN apps, including the popular Russian service Amnezia VPN, in 2024 alone.
These growing restrictions are creating a digital iron curtain, cutting Russia off from the rest of the world and leaving its citizens with fewer and fewer options for secure and private communications.
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
