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Russia's site blocking systems intended to restrict access to copyrighted content and anything else deemed undesirable are not working to the standards required by the government. Blocking access to Internet resources requires a large amount of hardware, but due to sanctions, there are fears in Russia that a failure in the operations of the systems may be only a few months away.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been going on for more than a month. It won't plan.
In parallel with the horrific images being shared around the world, Russia is using its infamous site-blocking systems to deny access to websites that dare to challenge the Kremlin's narrative of Putin's 'Special Operation'.
Telecoms regulator Roscomnadzor is working harder than ever to maintain its blocks against everything from Google News, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to the thousands of pirate sites and other blacklisted resources in the country.
But, like the invasion itself, things are not going to be planned here either.
Urgent checks performed on blocking ability
Just over a week ago, local telecom operators that provide Internet access to Russian citizens were ordered to carry out "urgent checks" of their ability to continue blocking sites deemed illegal by the state. ISPs were required to conduct an audit and contact telecoms regulator Roscomnadzor.
Today is the reporting deadline, but according to various sources, problems are evident in the system.
With accurate and critical reporting virtually strangled by the state, it's not entirely clear who or what ordered the review, but the consensus is that prescribed blackout standards are not being met. As previously reported, the local RuTracker torrent site suddenly was found unlocked earlier this month, allegedly due to problems at an ISP.
Problems with the Roscomnadzor-controlled Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) system 'TSPU' embedded in the networks of around 80 local ISPs are also reported and recently used to restrict TorVPN and twitter traffic.
Since there is almost no detailed public information about how the TSPU system works, it is almost impossible to say what the problems are or what caused them. That said, reports suggest that TPSU doesn't work on all ISPs and isn't configured correctly on others. However, if today's problems are a concern for the Kremlin, it is likely that in a few months the problem will get worse.
Russia's internet sector is under threat
As sanctions begin to take effect, Russia is under increasing pressure. This includes a lack of telecommunications equipment due to component shortages, something that will directly affect not only the effectiveness of Russia's jamming systems, but the entire telecommunications sector.
according to a Kommersant report citing a review by Russia's IT and Communications RSPP Commission, dire economic conditions have led to an assessment that ISPs and other telcos only have enough hardware reserves to ensure infrastructure operability for four to six months.
Add to this a 40% increase in equipment purchase prices and predictions that up to 30% of technicians could leave the country in the coming months, and it's not hard to see the looming crisis. For Russian authorities, however, the desire to block seems greater than ever, as evidenced by an instruction this week to block a section of Wikipedia.
The order, dated March 28 (pdf)requires the blocking of information related to the 'Russian invasion of Ukraine', which seems to describe exactly that.
However, according to the Kremlin, it contains "false reports" of acts of terrorism and false information "distributed under the guise of trustworthy messages". The page poses a "threat or harm to life" and could lead to a "massive violation of public order," the notice added.
Citizens of Russia can file an appeal (here and here) to have a resource unlocked, but it seems unlikely that they will be given much attention in the current environment.
If Russia's blocking system fails, copyright owners will no doubt be disappointed. But for most of the rest of the world and growing sectors of Russian society, it can't come soon enough.
