Russia turns to AI filters to hunt down VPNs in 2.2-billion-ruble crackdown
- Russia spent 2.27B to integrate AI into its national web filtering system
- It flags VPN connections by analyzing packet timing and server patterns
- Experts warn the rollout could impact all VPN protocols
Russia's communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has reportedly officially deployed machine learning filters to choke virtual private networks across the country.
The state censor poured 2.27 billion rubles into the project, according to government digital transformation documents reviewed by Forbes Russia and reported by The Moscow Times.
The move marks a sharp escalation in the Kremlin's digital barrier. For millions of citizens relying on the best VPN software to reach independent news and blocked foreign websites, bypassing censorship is about to become far more difficult.
Previous leaks suggested Russia's next tool to fight VPNs appears to be AI, and these newly revealed procurement records confirm the system is now active. The software integrates directly into ASBI, the centralized...
Copyright of this story solely belongs to www.techradar.com. To see the full text click HERE
