Russia drops controversial VPN tax following technical delays and widespread backlash
- Russia’s Digital Development Ministry confirmed it has completely dropped its plan to charge users for international internet traffic.
- The proposal initially aimed to charge users roughly 150 rubles per extra gigabyte after a 15GB monthly allowance.
- Demand for censorship circumvention tools remains at an all-time high as the Kremlin continues its broader crackdown on digital privacy.
Internet users in Russia can breathe a sigh of relief as the government has abandoned its controversial plan to tax international mobile traffic.
The proposal, which heavily targeted those using the best VPN services to bypass state censorship, would have forced residents to pay steep premiums to access a free and open internet.
The policy reversal was confirmed during a recent State Duma session by Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Ivan Lebedev.
Responding to parliamentary questions about the initiative from Communist Party lawmaker Oleg Smolin, Lebedev categorically stated: “Fees for foreign traffic are not...
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