- Russia may block all Google services over data storage concerns
- The move is part of a “soft squeeze” of American technology companies
- This follows a wider crackdown on Western platforms
Russia is considering a complete ban on all Google services, according to a top government official, as the country continues to tighten its grip on the internet.
Andrei Svintsov, a member of the State Duma’s committee on information policy, reportedly said that many, if not all, of Google’s services could be restricted because the company stores user data outside of Russia. Svintsov claims that this represents a “serious threat” to the country and its economy, as it allows for the monitoring of Russian businesses. This could then be used to inform further sanctions against the country.
This isn’t the first time that Svintsov has targeted Google-owned platforms. Back in August, he suggested that Google Meet could be banned after the service experienced some brief disruptions in the country. At the time, Svintsov said that any Western apps deemed a threat to national security could be banned and that those that “can spy on our citizens and send information to Western intelligence services may well be blocked.”
The Russian government has been pushing for foreign tech companies to store the data of Russian users on servers located within the country for some time. With the introduction of a new bill in the Duma to strengthen the protection of personal data when it is transferred abroad, it seems that the government is now ready to take more drastic measures to enforce this.
The ultimate goal, Svintsov says, is a “soft squeeze” of American technology out of Russia. For those looking to bypass ongoing and new restrictions, using one of the best VPN services is becoming increasingly important.
Russia’s digital iron curtain
This latest threat against Google is part of a wider trend of Russia’s increasing digital isolation. While the government has a long history of restricting the internet, censors have further targeted a number of Western platforms in recent months.
In December, it was reported that Russia had blocked access to Roblox, FaceTime, and Snapchat, with the country’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, accusing the platforms of hosting “extremist materials” and being used to organize “terrorist activities.”
The popular messaging service WhatsApp is also in the Kremlin’s crosshairs, with the government threatening a full ban of the app. Over 30 experts from civil society organizations and tech companies have condemned Russia’s actions, calling it a “wider campaign against human rights.” In a joint letter, they argue that “Free, private, and secure communication is not a privilege, but a fundamental right that must be protected everywhere.”
As well as blocking access to Western platforms, Russia is also making it harder for its citizens to use tools that can bypass its censorship. The government has been cracking down on VPN usage over the years, in fact. In March 2024, it introduced a law to criminalize the spread of information about how to circumvent internet restrictions.
That’s likely the legal basis behind a wave of removal orders, which have led to Apple killing at least 60 VPN apps, including the popular Russian service Amnezia VPN, in 2024 alone.
These escalating restrictions are creating a digital iron curtain, cutting Russia off from the rest of the world and leaving its citizens with fewer and fewer options for secure and private communication.
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