Russia expands online control, monitors private messages
Photo: Russia tightens control over the internet (Getty Images)
Starting January 1, 2026, Russian internet services will be required to store all user messages for three years. This expands the authorities' ability to conduct surveillance, censorship, and pressure on citizens, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.
Starting in the new year, Russian online platforms are required to retain all users' audio, video, and text messages for three years, even if they have been deleted.
Law enforcement agencies are authorized to request access to this data at any time, significantly strengthening controls over private information.
Formally, this is explained as protection against fraud, but in practice, the new rules create a tool of total surveillance, where personal correspondence is no longer private.
Any message can be used against a user on suspicion of "extremism" or "discrediting the authorities."
"This forces people to self-censor, fearing to express their opinions even in private chats. In this way, the authorities are creating a digital state of fear, where control and intimidation become the main methods of governance," the Center for Countering Disinformation emphasized.
Previously, data retention periods were limited to one year.
Total control of the internet
Based on 2025 data, Russia ranked first globally in internet blackouts. According to monitoring platforms, the total duration of network shutdowns in Russia over the year reached 37,166 hours, with economic losses estimated at $11.9 billion.
In addition, the Federation Council plans to legally require bloggers to distribute propaganda advertising. The draft law requires the placement of advertising related to "traditional values," "patriotism," and "culture" on all major internet platforms, accounting for at least 5% of all advertising content.
Moreover, the obligation to distribute such advertising applies to owners of large public channels and social media accounts.
In occupied Crimea, shutdowns and throttling of mobile internet are planned to become a permanent practice under the pretext of "security," in fact aimed at strengthening control over the population.
