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Russia’s media watchdog is to spend 59 billion rubles ($644 million) over the next five years as part of a campaign to reform online security and control.
Roskomnadzor is the federal agency responsible for monitoring mass media platforms, with the authority to control and censor information.
According to Forbes Russia, the government department will use the funds allocated under the “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” plan for the Cybersecurity Infrastructure project to upgrade its hardware and systems. The resources will increase the ability of the agency to filter online traffic and block or restrict certain web outlets.
The proposals will also give authorities more capability to restrict access to VPNs, although it will be difficult to completely eradicate this type of resource.
The full amount of federal spending is said to be 68 billion rubles ($750m), with the vast majority of it (59 billion rubles/$644m) to be spent on Cybersecurity Infrastructure.
Other Objectives Under the Federal Plan
Following a law passed in Russia in 2019, the state can cut itself off from the internet entirely. This is a measure in the interests of “digital sovereignty”, while the Kremlin regime regularly shuts down “foreign sources” publishing information that it believes to be contrary to national interests whether they are based in Russia or not.
After the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there was an increase in the number of foreign social media and internet companies expelled from Russia.
Other objectives under the federal plan include the creation of a unified platform to combat fraud actors, in conjunction with banks and financial providers, as well as a system to block phishing sites.
