Russian VPN Provider Files Lawsuit Against Kremlin’s Censorship Body Regulator
HideMyName, a VPN provider in Russia, has taken the unprecedented step of filing a lawsuit against the country’s infamous censorship body regulator. The provider received complaints from Russian users who were unable to access its website since June 6, 2023. However, no evidence of the VPN service’s domain name being blocked by Roskomnadzor could be found. Determined to resolve the issue, HideMyName conducted a technical investigation and discovered that while Port 433 was not blocked, the server was refusing to establish communication via TLS protocol, thus preventing users from accessing the site. This revelation prompted HideMyName to challenge the block legally.
According to Sarkis Darbinyan, the Head of the legal practice at Russian digital rights advocacy group Roskomvosvoboda, HideMyName’s case is particularly unique. The blocking of the VPN appears to be in a “shadow” state, with no available information about it. Furthermore, the method of blocking, carried out through Technical Threat Prevention Units (TSPU), established under the Sovereign Internet Act, does not meet the criteria of threats defined for this type of blocking. Previously, VPN services in Russia were blocked at different times, but the applications could still be downloaded and used safely. This is the first time a lawsuit has been filed against such blocking.
HideMyName is not the only VPN service to face the oppressive censorship of the Kremlin. Over 167 VPNs have reportedly been blocked in Russia, and another censorship campaign targeting VPNs providing access to Meta-owned social media platforms is expected to begin in March next year.
Sarkis Darbinyan emphasized that online censorship in Russia is becoming stricter each year, with popular protocols such as OpenVPN and Wireguard already being blocked. The recent test blocking of the modern Shadowsocks protocol indicates a continuous commitment to expanding VPN censorship and other forms of internet restrictions.
The outcome of HideMyName’s lawsuit holds significant importance for both Russia and the international community. Winning the case would establish a legal precedent and potentially challenge the authorities’ unlawful actions. HideMyName and Roskomvosvoboda are prepared to fight this battle and are ready to take the case to international courts, including the UN Human Rights Committee if necessary. It is their hope that through international court decisions, the law in Russia can be liberalized and sanitized, bringing an end to the dark times of the current political regime.
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