The internet has become a vital part of daily life, connecting people across the globe.
Yet, in some parts of the world, governments are finding ways to control or restrict access to online information.
Russia has been advancing its efforts to create a "sovereign internet," allowing the state to fully control online activity, reports Digi24.
Recently, these plans took a step further with a controversial move to test partial internet shutdowns in specific regions.
Residents in Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia experienced a complete block of access to the global internet for a day.
These regions, located in southwestern Russia, could not use services like Google, YouTube, Telegram, or WhatsApp.
Even VPNs, often used to bypass such restrictions, were largely ineffective. Local news reports indicated that only a few VPN services remained functional, though it was unclear which ones.
Russia has been cracking down on VPN usage. Apple has removed many VPN apps from its Russian app store, while authorities have blocked nearly 200 VPN providers.
These actions are part of a larger strategy to control internet access within the country. The goal is to create a national internet that is independent of global networks and entirely regulated by the government.
Testing for this sovereign internet has intensified. Russia has throttled speeds on popular platforms like YouTube, making them nearly impossible to use.
Reports suggest the country has spent over $600 million on developing the technology to enable this.
In the future, Russia may block foreign hosting services like Amazon Web Services, forcing businesses to switch to Russian-controlled providers.
This push for internet control reflects a growing trend of digital fragmentation worldwide.
China has long been known for its strict internet censorship, often called the “Great Firewall.”
Russia appears to be following a similar path, though it remains unclear how far these restrictions will go.
For now, VPNs offer limited solutions. However, as governments enhance their ability to detect and block them, the fight for internet freedom faces increasing challenges.
