Russian VPN demand ‘skyrockets’ after social media block.
As Russia blocked access to Meta Platforms Inc.’s main social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, Internet users’ demand for tools to bypass restrictions skyrocketed, according to data from a monitoring firm.
Instagram access in Russia was cut from Monday in response to Meta’s decision last week to allow social media users in Ukraine to post messages such as “Death to the Russian invaders”. Facebook was already banned because of what Moscow said were restrictions on Russian media access there.
On the eve of the ban on Instagram, the demand for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) that encrypt data and hide a user’s location increased by 2,088 percent higher than the average daily demand in mid-February.
Russia has been the target of Western sanctions for attacks in Ukraine and is struggling to control the flow of information, drowning out foreign social media firms with traffic slowdowns, and in the case of Facebook and Instagram implemented full bans.
Demand for VPNs had already been growing in the region as Russian and Ukrainian websites fell prey to cyber attacks.
Russia banned several VPNs last year, but has failed to block them completely.