Censorship
Russia blocks Viber in latest attempt to censor communications
Russian telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor has blocked the Viber encrypted messaging app, used by hundreds of millions worldwide, for violating the country’s legislation. “Access to the Viber service is restricted due to the violation of the requirements of Russian legislation for organizers of information dissemination,” Russia’s internet regulator said in a press statement. “Compliance with the […]
Tor needs 200 new WebTunnel bridges to fight censorship
The Tor Project has put out an urgent call to the privacy community asking volunteers to help deploy 200 new WebTunnel bridges by the end of the year to fight government censorship. Currently, the Tor Project operates 143 WebTunnel bridges, which help users in heavily censored regions bypass internet access restrictions and website blocks. This […]
Discord blocked in Russia and Turkey for spreading illegal content
Discord has been suddenly blocked in Russia and Turkey since yesterday due to illegal activity residing on the platform, leaving legitimate users in those countries unable to visit the website or connect to the service. While Discord started as a communication and community-building space for gamers, it has since expanded to include a broad spectrum […]
Proton VPN adds ‘Discreet Icons’ to hide app on Android devices
Proton VPN has announced a series of updates to its Windows and Android apps to help users combat censorship, circumvent blocks, and protect themselves from authoritarian governments due to using forbidden tools. One of the standout features is ‘Discreet Icon,’ a new setting allowing users to disguise the Proton VPN app icon and make it […]
DuckDuckGo blocked in Indonesia over porn, gambling search results
Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo has been blocked in Indonesia by its government after citizens reportedly complained about pornographic and online gambling content in its search results. The government’s choice to block DuckDuckGo isn’t surprising considering the cultural and religious context, with Indonesia being a Muslim country where gambling is prohibited and porn is viewed as […]