US funds software for Russians to slip past censors

The US government-backed Open Technology Fund is paying out money to a handful of American firms providing virtual private networks (VPNs) free of charge to millions of Russians, who can then use them to visit websites blocked by censors. — Pixabay

SAN FRANCISCO: A US-backed campaign is giving Russians access to anti-censor software to dodge Moscow’s crackdown on dissent against its invasion of Ukraine, involved groups told AFP.

Russia has intensified its restrictions on independent media since attacking its neighbour in February, with journalists under threat of prosecution for criticising the invasion or for even referring to it as a war.