Belarus blocks Russian social network VKontakte: what is known
25 October 01:06
The Belarusian authorities have decided to restrict access to one of the most popular social networks of Russian origin, VKontakte. This is the first case when the blocking applies not to individual pages, but to the entire resource. The reasons for the access restriction have not been officially announced. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the website of the State Inspectorate for Telecommunications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus.
What happened
According to the data published on the website of the State Inspectorate for Telecommunications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus, the decision to restrict access was made on the basis of a submission from the State Security Committee (KGB).
“Based on the submission of the State Security Committee, access to the information resource has been restricted. The duration of the restriction is currently unknown,” the statement said.
Information about the specific reasons for the blocking or details of further actions has not yet been made public.
What is known about VKontakte
VKontakte social network is a key platform in Russia that is actively used to disseminate information and shape public opinion. According to open data, 71% of Russian citizens use it every month.
The platform is known as one of the main tools of Russian propaganda. Thanks to targeting algorithms and personalized content, propaganda materials can effectively reach target audiences, from young people to the military and pensioners.
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Why it is important
The blocking of VKontakte in Belarus seems like an unusual move given the close political and information ties between Minsk and Moscow. Previously, restrictions only applied to individual pages, but the complete blocking of the entire resource may indicate
- the struggle for control over information flows within the country;
- an attempt to limit the influence of external forces, in particular Russian media structures;
- internal political conflicts between law enforcement agencies.
How users react
Local media and users report difficult access to the social network, interruptions in service, or complete blocking without warning.
Some Belarusians have already begun to use VPN services to restore access.
Ukrainian context
Ukraine blocked VKontakte back in 2017 under a decree issued by President Petro Poroshenko as part of sanctions against Russian Internet resources. This was part of the national strategy on information security and countering Russian propaganda.
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