The Russian government requires VPN providers to filter their content

Providers include NordVPN, VyprVPN and TorGuard. If they do not comply within 30 days, their internet access will be banned.

Η Telecommunications management service Roskomnadzor has asked VPN providers to connect to the State Content Control Network (FGIS) to comply with current legislation on content accessed by network users.

In 2017 the Russian government passed tough legislation to restrict the freedom provided by VPN networks. In short, VPNs bypass various state Internet bans by connecting users to overseas servers. Under the "new" legislation, however, companies are forced to register with Roskomnadzor and block access to websites banned by the state.

Roskomnadzor, however, seems to be far behind in enforcing the law, which according to a VyprVPN executive is not accidental as the authority is likely to block VPN connections through internet providers first. VPNs do not seem to be the only ones being pressured to comply, with Google at odds with the Kremlin lately.

"They (the Kremlin) are watching the VPNs and trying to put direct pressure on us, as China is doing." Said Sundey Yokubaitis, CEO of GoldenFrog, which manages VyprVpn. The company, based in Switzerland, is one of the first to receive the E-mail ultimatum from Roskomnadzor. Yokubaitis, however, said they did not intend to comply. "Our main mission is to keep the internet open and free, VyprVPN will continue to provide internet access without censorship."

TorGuard responded to Roskomnadzor's request by removing all physical servers from Russia on suspicion that authorities would try to seize the hardware along with their customer data, while increasing the number of servers in neighboring countries to cover demand.

NordVPN took a similar stance by withdrawing all its servers from Russia as: "Connection to NordVPN servers in Russia is no longer secure. […] In order to prevent any interference or malfunction, we will shut down all our Russian servers. "

GoldenFrog's chief executive told PCMag that the company intends to continue serving its Russian customers, but suspects the Kremlin will continue to introduce "censorship" technology from China as part of a renewed attack on Internet freedom.

"If the Russian government decides to use Great Firewall technology against us, we are prepared to fight their efforts to curb the Internet, as we have done in China for many years."

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