Russian Authorities Threaten to Block Discord

Written by Camilla Jessen

Sep.27 - 2024 11:46 AM CET

Technology
Photo: Diego Thomazini / Shutterstock.com
Photo: Diego Thomazini / Shutterstock.com
Discord may be the next major platform to face a ban in Russia.

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Discord, a messaging platform widely used by gamers and crypto communities, could soon be blocked in Russia due to alleged law violations.

According to Kommersant, Russia's internet watchdog Roskomnadzor has issued five new violation reports against Discord since September 20, which may lead to a ban.

A source told Kommersant that Discord could be blocked "in the coming days."

People in the gaming industry are already talking about the possible shutdown.

Jan Yankeloits, from Overmobile, said Discord is important for managing gaming communities and crypto projects in Russia. Many people use it instead of corporate tools like Slack.

However, in mid-September, users began having problems accessing the platform without a VPN, raising fears of further restrictions.

This comes as part of a broader crackdown by Roskomnadzor on Western platforms. Earlier in September, the agency demanded that telecom companies limit YouTube speeds or face losing their licenses.