The Russian authorities are once again facing criticism for increasing censorship on the internet and controlling the network. A new report titled 'Violations, Restrictions, and Blocks: State Censorship, Control, and Growing Isolation of Internet Users in Russia' has been published by the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch.
“For many years, the Russian authorities have meticulously expanded their legal and technological tools to turn the Russian segment of the internet into a strictly controlled and isolated platform,”said Anastasia Krupе, a representative of Human Rights Watch.
The study showed that internet censorship in Russia is becoming increasingly extensive and opaque. The Russian authorities block access to undesirable websites, limit internet resources, and monitor user activity. This poses serious threats to freedom of speech, access to information, and citizens' privacy.
In its report, Human Rights Watch expresses outrage at the intensification of censorship and control over the internet in Russia. The organization emphasizes the threats this poses to freedom of speech and citizens' privacy, and calls on the Russian authorities to establish transparent and democratic rules for regulating the internet space.