Behind Russia’s ‘digital iron curtain’, tech workarounds thrive

Demand for VPNs and encrypted messaging apps have soared as Russians try to access blocked websites and credible news, but the country's moves risk splintering the Internet further along geopolitical lines. — AFP Relaxnews

As a busy tour guide in St. Petersburg, Vsevolod Gavrilov never paid much attention to the day’s headlines, instead tracking travel influencers on social media platforms and messaging his friends on the Telegram app.

But since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb 24, the 37-year-old said he had been trying to find “credible” news sources due to Russian moves to block numerous global and local news sites, along with social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.