The escalating restrictions on the internet within the north Caucasus region raise serious questions about the future for communities like those in Vladikavkaz. For years, the area has experienced various internet blockades, prompting the concern: how much worse can things become? Victoria, a teacher in North Ossetia, exemplifies the impact.
Despite using WhatsApp to connect with her daughter in Germany – a connection now disrupted by deteriorating internet access – she has resorted to a paid VPN. Following the designation of WhatsApp as an extremist organization, she and her family now communicate via VK, a less politically charged social network. Victoria prioritizes her family’s connection, stating her family has no secrets and that precautions are beneficial.
She emphasizes the constitutional right to privacy and the frustration of navigating bureaucratic hurdles to access personal data. Despite her initial support for President Putin, she now identifies as a Russian patriot. Recent reports, citing sources, revealed Russia’s planned ban on Telegram, set to take effect April 1st, 2026, a move confirmed by outlets like Baza.
This action follows a decade-long trend of increasing internet censorship, beginning with the Unified Register of Prohibited Websites in 2012, initially targeting harmful content. However, the ‘Lugovoy Law’ in 2014 dramatically shifted the landscape, allowing for website blocking based on ‘extremism’ or protest calls. This created a divided internet, marked by the battle for Telegram, which ultimately led to Roskomnadzor switching off the messenger by blocking millions of IP addresses.
The state’s subsequent focus on controlling network traffic culminated in the ‘sovereign internet’ law, requiring internet providers to install ‘black boxes’ – TSPU – to monitor and potentially restrict online activity. Twitter was “tested” through deliberate slowdowns, and following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Instagram, Facebook, and numerous independent media outlets were banned. More recently, YouTube has been similarly targeted, experiencing significant slowdowns.
The ongoing efforts to control the internet within the north Caucasus highlight a persistent struggle between technological innovation and state control.
Topics: #north #caucasus #internet
