In Moscow's Shadows In Moscow's Shadows 210: Is Russia Being Sentenced To The Digital Gulag?
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Jul 27, 2025 The podcast dives into Russia's alarming shift towards a 'digital gulag,' where online freedoms are threatened by new laws banning messaging apps. It underscores the generational divide on tech perceptions, comparing today’s struggles to Soviet-era censorship. The conversation also touches on the implications for Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts amidst ongoing conflict and skepticism about security reforms. This exploration raises critical questions about digital sovereignty and how state control might backfire, weakening the regime's grasp on power.
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Russia's Push Against WhatsApp
- Russia aims to ban WhatsApp due to Meta's refusal to surrender data storage to Russian servers.
- This ban pushes users towards state-controlled apps, increasing surveillance and control over communications.
New Law Targets Online Searches
- Russia's new law fines intentional searches for extremist material online, including VPN use.
- The law mainly acts as a deterrent and a selective tool for repression.
Censorship Faces Loyalist Pushback
- Some Kremlin loyalists oppose strict censorship laws fearing it will hamper their own monitoring work.
- Even pro-regime journalists worry restrictions limit investigations of declared extremist groups.
