Kiev, Ukraine. In one of the most blatant acts of state sponsored censorship in history, the Kiev based junta of Petro Poroshenko has restricted internet and media access for millions of its citizens to the shock and horror of western human rights groups.
“Although it is impossible to completely block Russian social networks, it would be an achievement if their audience was significantly restricted, which will reduce the possibility of data collection by the FSB,” according to Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Dmytro Shymkiv.
“In actuality, it is impossible to block all Russian websites completely, and this is a fact. The blocking systems that exist at the URL and DNS level are very primitive and simple. There are options of analyzing traffic, which is more complicated. Further, control over the packets – when we start talking about the packet analysis, all these statements from millions and billions appear. You can cut off the audience of VKontakte with the help of URL, DNS, and traffic control,” Shymkiv said.
“At the same time, VPN and TOR are hiding a lot of your data, including geolocation. And it is a fact that this limits the possibility of data collection by FSB. This is a matter of limiting the audience as well. Already today, an outflow of users of Vkontakte could be seen. For us it is important to reduce the audience and I consider this as our greatest achievement,” Shymkiv stressed.
Others do not agree with Kiev and liken it to anti-Jewish measures in Nazi Germany from the 1930s.
“Reporters Without Borders condemns the ban imposed on Russian social networks by the Ukrainian authorities last week, calling it a disproportionate measure that seriously undermines the Ukrainian people’s right to information and freedom of expression,” A press release stated.
“Blocking social networks, messaging services and entire news organizations is neither proportionate nor justified in light of the stated aims. With this decree Petro Poroshenko has dealt a serious blow to Ukrainian citizens’ right to information and freedom of expression and has turned his back on his international obligations,” the head of RWBs Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, Johann Bihr, said in the statement.
Previously it was reported that according to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on the application of economic and other sanctions, Ukraine imposed sanctions for the first time against Russian Internet and media companies such as Mail.ru Group, Yandex, VKontakte, and Odnoklassniki.
A number of Russian media also fell under the restrictive measures including the media holding RBC, Zvezda, TNT, Moscow Media, Russia Today (RIA Novosti), Nashe Radio, NTV-Plus , NTV, Channel One, Rossiya 24, RTR-Planeta, as well as the manufacturers of anti-virus software Kaspersky Lab and Doctor Web, and suppliers of popular ERP-systems 1C LLC, Parus LLC, JSC Galaktika Centre. Which are now forbidden to Ukrainian citizens under penalty of law.