Putin bans VPNs to stop Russians from accessing prohibited websites

The law will ban the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) and other technologies, known as anonymizers, that allow people to surf the web anonymously.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that prohibits technology that provides access to websites banned in the country, the government’s website said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that prohibits technology that provides access to websites banned in the country. (REUTERS File Photo)

The law, already approved by the Duma, the lower house of parliament, will ban the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) and other technologies, known as anonymizers, that allow people to surf the web anonymously. It comes into force on November 1.

Leonid Levin, the head of the Duma’s information policy committee, has said the law is not intended to impose restrictions on law-abiding citizens but is meant only to block access to “unlawful content,” RIA news agency said.