Roskomnadzor has put forward a draft order that aims to classify scientific, technical, and statistical information related to VPN services as prohibited content in Russia. The only exception would be VPN services used for secure remote access.
Prior to this development, Roskomnadzor had an order in place from March 1 that did not apply criteria for inclusion in the register of prohibited resources to scientific, technical, and statistical information about methods for accessing restricted information resources or networks in Russia.
The newly proposed order suggests an amendment to exempt scientific, technical, and statistical information about methods of exchanging information on networks, including the Internet, using secure communication channels during the process of accessing information resources or networks.
Roskomnadzor is basing its decision on Law No. 149, which prohibits information pertaining to methods of accessing restricted information resources or networks within Russian territory. The department argues that VPN services, which provide access to blocked content, fall under this prohibition.
The draft order emphasizes that VPN services are intended for secure access to information resources and protected information exchange. They are not meant to circumvent restrictions and are primarily used to safeguard confidential data, including for preventing data breaches by government agencies, businesses, and financial institutions.
To further clarify the intent behind the order, changes are proposed to paragraph 5 to specifically address information related to secure data exchange.
The draft order was made public on July 30 for a public discussion period lasting until August 5. If enacted, the order is scheduled to come into effect on March 1, 2025, and remain in force until September 1, 2029.