Russia’s internet watchdog has launched a sweeping campaign to collect citizens’ IP addresses from telecommunications companies, marking a significant escalation in the Kremlin’s efforts to control online activity and block VPN services that allow access to banned websites.
Roskomnadzor reported that it sent requests to over 1,300 telecommunications companies in March demanding subscriber IP address data. By May 21, the agency had already fined 85 operators for failing to comply with these demands.
The regulatory agency insists its actions are legal and that companies have no choice but to comply with the requests. According to Russian legislation, telecom operators must provide users’ personal network identifiers when demanded by authorities. Roskomnadzor claims this data collection is necessary “to counter threats to the security of the Russian segment of the internet” and protect against cyberattacks.
This represents a major expansion of Russia’s digital surveillance capabilities. While IP monitoring can technically help identify sources of malicious traffic and combat spam, industry sources indicate the primary goal is restricting access to independent news sources and detecting VPN usage among Russian citizens.
The crackdown comes as Russia faces growing challenges in controlling information flow. VPN services have become increasingly popular among Russians seeking access to blocked social media platforms, news websites, and other banned content. The IP address collection would allow authorities to:
- Identify users attempting to bypass internet restrictions
- Track access to prohibited websites and services
- Build detailed profiles of citizens’ online activities
- Enhance the effectiveness of existing blocking systems
Russia’s internet control efforts have already caused significant technical problems. Major service outages hit the country on April 3 and April 6, which telecom experts directly linked to equipment designed to block banned resources. Telegram founder Pavel Durov stated that Russian authorities’ VPN restriction attempts led to large-scale failures in the national payment system.
The government has also begun educational campaigns against VPN usage, with Russian schools now holding lectures on the alleged dangers of VPN services. Authorities are simultaneously developing their own state-controlled VPN service that would not provide access to banned resources.
This latest move reflects the Russian government’s broader strategy to create a more isolated and controlled internet environment, similar to China’s “Great Firewall” approach. For Russian citizens, it signals another step toward digital isolation and reduced access to independent information sources at a time when such access has become increasingly critical.