Inside-net: Russia is dismantling free internet connections

October 7, 2025

The Russian government has been intensifying internet restrictions, now implementing "white lists" of permissible websites alongside existing blacklists. These white lists currently apply during mobile internet shutdowns, which affected 54 Russian regions on September 27, 2025, but experts like Mikhail Klimarev believe this represents a shift toward a completely controlled "inside-net" within three years. Authorities are simultaneously waging war on VPNs through deep packet inspection, executive orders prohibiting VPN advertisements, and protocol-level censorship that disrupts internet calls regardless of platform.

Who is affected

Russian internet users across 54 regions experiencing mobile internet shutdowns
People in 30 regions where white lists are being implemented
Russians attempting to use WhatsApp and Telegram for voice calls
Non-political bloggers who used Instagram for income (market valued at RUB 11.5 billion/USD 130 million in 2024)
Russians living abroad who cannot access the new "Max" messenger without Russian SIM cards
Opposition media, computer-savvy immigrants, and NGOs creating VPN alternatives

What action is being taken

The Russian government is implementing "white lists" of approved Russia-based websites during mobile internet shutdowns
Authorities are using deep packet inspection (DPI) to identify and block VPN protocols
The government is blocking protocol-level communications rather than specific apps, making internet calls nearly impossible
State-affiliated VK has developed "Max," a national messenger that works only with Russian or Belarusian SIM cards
Opposition groups and activists are distributing smaller VPNs with unknown protocols across hundreds of servers to circumvent blocks

Why it matters

This marks a shift from selective censorship to a comprehensive "inside-net" model similar to North Korea
The white lists could be applied to all internet connections in Russia within about three years
Protocol-level censorship creates plausible deniability while cutting off free global communications
The new approach severely restricts access to outside information and person-to-person communication with those abroad
These measures represent a sophisticated blueprint for infrastructure-level control that other governments might adopt

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices