As the UK, Australia, and other countries appear to be introducing ID requirements and banning anonymous access, Russia reveals it has the ability to block VPN access.
As the UK, Australia, and other countries appear to be introducing ID requirements and banning anonymous access, Russia reveals it has the ability to block VPN access.
This is a stupid move, and is causing a lot of anger. Telegram has become effectively unusable to Russian users overnight.
And yet, Russians will still rather fire up a VPN to use Telegram than using the state-sponsored MAX. Moreover, one of the most vocal groups denouncing what Russia does to Telegram are soldiers in Ukraine, which the government usually relies on for support and which define Russian government legitimacy.
They’re releasing their own state controlled version called “Max” - so that’s intentional. Even if this - at least temporarily - damages their own internal communications (also military I heard).