Russia tests a system to block VPN users from accessing the global internet

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, Russia has begun testing a new system capable of cutting off global internet access, with early reports indicating that even virtual private networks (VPNs) cannot bypass these restrictions. This marks a significant escalation in the country's efforts to establish a so-called "sovereign internet."

The Russian Ministry of Digital Development plans to allocate nearly 60 billion rubles (660 million dollars) over the next five years to enhance its internet traffic censorship system. This system, known as TSPU, uses domestically developed traffic management tools created, distributed, and controlled by the national communications regulator Roskomnadzor.

According to researchers from the project Censored Planet, which tracks global internet censorship, TSPU represents a sophisticated method of internet control. The system allows Russian authorities to inspect and filter internet traffic, potentially blocking access to specific websites and services while maintaining access to approved domestic resources.