Duma Aims to Discourage Russians from Using VPNs
Russian lawmaker Sergey Boyarsky urged citizens, especially youth, to stop using VPNs constantly, citing security risks and the danger of accessing unregulated parts of the internet. Authorities are implementing measures to limit VPN use, though no penalties exist for ordinary users.
Consensus
- Sergey Boyarsky, head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, stated that constant use of VPNs is unsafe.
- Boyarsky emphasized efforts to discourage young people from using VPNs.
- He warned that using VPNs could lead users to dangerous parts of the internet that the state seeks to protect citizens from.
- The state is actively working to limit VPN usage through measures targeting digital platforms and social networks.
- Roskomnadzor is involved in blocking VPN services.
- No legal responsibility exists for ordinary users using VPNs.
- The statement was made at the Festival of New Media in Solnechnogorsk.
- Boyarsky personally does not use VPNs.
Points of divergence
- Boyarsky stated in July 2025 that VPNs will not be banned and users will not be fined for using them, even for accessing blocked sites like Instagram and Facebook, as long as they don't contain extremist content. — vedomosti
- Germán Klimenko, former presidential advisor on internet development, stated that using blocked internet resources may lead to device infection by viruses. — vesti
- In April, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed there are no VPN bans in Russia. — vedomosti
- Popular apps have started blocking access when used via VPN, showing messages about active private networks and requesting users to disable them. — vedomosti
Coverage (5 sources)
- In the State Duma, they are trying to teach Russians to avoid VPN — Коммерсантъ
- Deputy Boyarsky stated that using VPN services is unsafe — Вести
- In the State Duma, it is considered that Russians need to be weaned off VPN — Ведомости
- In the State Duma, they called to teach youth to avoid VPN. — Первый Московский
- In the State Duma, they are trying to teach Russians to avoid VPN because with it you can enter 'not the right corners of the internet' — this is not safe... — Дождь (Telegram)