Increasing restrictions on the internet in Russia. Putin blocks access to YouTube and WhatsApp.

Russia is intensifying restrictions on the internet, with Roskomnadzor removing YouTube and WhatsApp from its DNS servers, making them inaccessible without a VPN. This aligns with a broader campaign against the Telegram app, considered a threat by the authorities. Users in Russia are facing difficulties accessing platforms, and 46% of respondents admitted to using VPNs to access YouTube. Censorship expert Michael Klimarev emphasizes that the NDNS (National Domain Name System) allows centralized control over access to websites, and users fear detection of their circumvention settings. Recent restrictions also include fines for searching for "extremist" materials and using VPNs. Klimarev warns that if the situation continues, Russia could develop a completely different, unsafe, and controlled internet.