The Kremlin plans to ease internet censorship to maintain Putin's approval ratings
Russian authorities are considering revising their policy on strict internet restrictions.
The main reason for this change of course is high-ranking officials’ concern that blanket blocking measures are negatively affecting Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings among the population.
According to sources at Bloomberg, a serious conflict of interest has arisen within the Russian government.
While the FSB insists on maximizing control, some officials are warning of the critical political and economic risks posed by the complete isolation of the Russian internet.
For now, this resistance could significantly slow down repressive measures against digital freedom.
In particular, sources note that the popular Telegram messenger may continue to operate in Russia without new restrictions, as the authorities fear a social backlash.
Information about the easing of pressure is also confirmed by sources at Forbes.
According to them, easing the blocking of Telegram is seen as a tool to relieve public tension that has built up due to tax hikes, soaring prices, and digital bans.
At the same time, the Kremlin’s official position remains ambiguous. During a briefing on April 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the crackdown on VPNs and other means of circumventing censorship is not a “step backward,” but merely a necessary measure.
The Kremlin representative emphasized that the current measures are driven solely by security concerns.
“Once the need for these measures disappears, the [internet] will be fully restored and normalized,” Peskov assured journalists.
Mobile internet has been completely shut down in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation
In Russia, government agencies have once again shut down the entire internet
