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Russia’s media censor, Roskomnadzor, has blocked thousands of local websites using Cloudflare’s encryption feature that enhances online privacy and security.
Local media reports indicate that several websites were blocked overnight on October 6. These sites use Cloudflare’s Encrypted Client Hello (ECH) feature, which enhances user privacy by making it harder for third parties to track site visits.
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On Thursday, Roskomnadzor advised Russian website owners to cease using Cloudflare’s CDN due to the company’s recent activation of the ECH extension by default.
“This technology is a way to bypass restrictions on access to information that’s banned in Russia. Using it goes against Russian law,” Roskomnadzor said.
The Russian internet regulator advised local website owners to use domestic CDN services, which help deliver web content faster and more efficiently.
“Domestic CDN services ensure reliable and secure operation of websites and protect them against cyberattacks,” Roskomnadzor said. The agency didn’t provide any details on the legal force of its “recommendation” or what would happen to companies that do not comply with it.
Russian censors are taking action to limit citizens’ access to information. Earlier this year, Roskomnadzor requested that Apple remove various VPN services from the Russian App Store, which helped users bypass government censorship.
The Russian government has blocked most Western social networks, news media, and local opposition outlets from being accessed via Russian IP addresses.
Cloudflare’s new restrictions will further reduce online information for Russian citizens. Meduza, an independent media outlet banned in Russia, reported that Cloudflare previously allowed local users to access its site and bypass restrictions. Now, users must seek alternative methods.
Russian experts estimate that Cloudflare holds about 44% of the CDN market, meaning that switching to alternatives will take time and incur extra costs.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Cloudflare, unlike many other Western tech companies, did not terminate all its services inside the country. “Russia needs more internet access, not less,” the company said in a statement at the time.
“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in requests from Russian networks to worldwide media, reflecting a desire by ordinary Russian citizens to see world news beyond that provided within Russia,” Cloudflare added.
To comply with U.S. sanctions, the company ended services for customers associated with sanctions, including those connected to Russian financial institutions and influence operations.’
After the invasion, some Russian tech companies stopped using Cloudflare, as Russia considers the company “unfriendly.” However, others kept using it to protect their websites from increasing DDoS attacks, according to Russian experts.
Roskomnadzor announced that Russia has a national system to combat DDoS attacks, launched in March. It has reportedly assisted Russian organizations in thwarting over 10,000 attacks.
Russia seeks to isolate its internet and replace foreign technology with local options. However, this shift encounters challenges like high costs and a shortage of suitable domestic alternatives, as indicated by local tech experts in an interview last October.
