This decision does not come as a surprise to most, as Russia has tried to control the narrative about its invasion of Ukraine from the very beginning. However, the EU and social media giants have put up a united front against “Russian disinformation.” As a consequence, both fronts have resorted to a series of blocking measures. Several Russian state-backed media outlets are banned across several European countries, as well as on social media platforms. On the other side, Russia has banned or restricted access to a number of Western news outlets and social media platforms.
Statements from the Roskomnadzor
Roskomnadzor has previously warned Google about ongoing advertising campaigns about the invasion, claiming they were spreading misinformation. The regulator complained that the campaign aimed to instill “protest moods” and peddle misinformation about the Russian operation. The decision to ban Google News comes down to the “unreliable” public information on the current conflict, according to Roskomnadzor. “Based on a request from the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, Roskomnadzor has restricted access to the Internet service News.Google in the country,” the regulator told Russian media outlet Interfax. “The mentioned U.S. Internet news resource provided access to numerous publications and materials containing unreliable, publicly significant information about the course of the special military operation in Ukraine,” it added. Russia has also enacted a law that criminalizes knowingly spreading fake news about the Russian military’s actions in Ukraine. Anyone found violating this law could receive a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Google News Joins List of Services Blocked in Russia
Since the early days of the invasion, Google and other popular platforms have taken a number of steps to curb misinformation. This specifically has to do with what the U.S. and the EU describe as Russian propaganda surrounding the invasion. Over the last few weeks, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter banned official Russian media accounts. At the EU’s request, YouTube blocked access to Russia Today and Sputnik’s channels in Europe. As a retaliatory measure, the Roskomnadzor has either banned or restricted access to these platforms in Russia. Blocking Instagram was apparently triggered by Meta’s decision to allow its users in certain countries to call for violence against the Russian invaders.
Accessing Blocked Content in Russia
An obvious, yet possibly overlooked, side to this “narrative war” is its impact on Russian citizens. The series of blockages reduce their access to information, as well as ways to communicate with the rest of the world. Popular social media platforms and news outlets are even more important during such a conflict. If you’re looking for ways to access blocked content in Russia, check out our article on how to get a VPN in Russia in 2022. Also, Twitter has recently taken a cue from prominent news outlets and launched its own Tor mirror site. This means that anyone with a Tor browser can use the service, even if it’s blocked in your country. If you’re looking for other ways to bypass censorship measures in place in Russia, we’ve created a short guide for journalists. It includes suggestions for anonymous browsing, secure file sharing, and encrypted communications.
