Free internet in the Russian capital is becoming a thing of the past. Authorities have launched extensive testing of a “white list” system, where users can only access state-approved resources. According to “Kod Durova” sources, testing has already affected public transport: on certain lines of the Moscow Metro, it is now impossible to access even Telegram via the free Wi-Fi.
District Isolation and the Capital as a Testing Ground
Connectivity restrictions in Moscow have been ongoing for about a week. RBC sources confirm that the Ministry of Digital Development has moved from regional trials to blockages in the capital. Telecom operators have received orders to limit access to websites not included in the “approved list” in specific city districts. This marks a shift from blocking specific prohibited sites to a model of total isolation, where everything not officially permitted is forbidden.
The Chinese Path and the End of Digital Openness
For Europe, the implementation of “white lists” is final confirmation that the Russian Federation has chosen a path of digital authoritarianism modeled after China. While the country’s economy stagnates and healthcare spending is slashed, the state is investing massive resources into creating a “sovereign RuNet.” This policy deprives citizens of access to independent information and transforms the internet from a space of opportunity into a tool of total control, further severing Russian society from the global information sphere.