Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 41 mins ago
Russia considers limits on users’ traffic from foreign websites
Russia’s digital ministry is considering limits on internet traffic from foreign domains for users in the country.
The proposal could require routing all foreign-domain traffic through state monitoring equipment before it reaches users.
The ministry could then restrict traffic above a limit, but the limit has not been set.
The discussions come as demand for VPNs has grown amid blocks on popular social networks, services and messaging apps.
VPN use can appear as foreign traffic to internet operators, but experts say it may be difficult to classify traffic accurately; industry representatives also worry about effects on mobile service and network connections.
The proposals may be added to a bill to reform the telecommunications sector, but the ministry says it is too early to say what will be included.
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development is considering limits on the amount of traffic users can access from foreign domains.
The proposal may give the ministry authority to restrict traffic above a limit that has not yet been set.
The ministry is also considering routing all traffic from foreign domains through technical systems used to counter threats.
Sources say the proposals could be included in a bill to reform the telecommunications industry.
Industry representatives have raised concerns about the difficulty of identifying foreign traffic and the possible effect on service quality.
- Who
- Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development is considering the proposal. Russian users could be affected.
- What
- The ministry is discussing routing traffic from foreign domains through technical systems and limiting its volume above a set threshold.
- When
- The proposal was reported on October 27 and 28, 2026. Discussions about related measures were reported as having begun in March.
- Where
- Russia.
- Why
- Not stated. A digital-economy expert speculated that the measure could be aimed at VPN use or restricting access abroad.
Ministry of Digital Development
Telecom and IT industry representatives
Purpose and scope
Ministry of Digital Development
The ministry is considering authority to limit users’ foreign-domain traffic above a threshold that has not been set.
Telecom and IT industry representatives
Industry representatives questioned how to identify foreign traffic, including cases involving Russian websites hosted abroad.
Implementation and effects
Ministry of Digital Development
The ministry says the relevant issues are being worked through.
Telecom and IT industry representatives
Industry participants have raised concerns about technical difficulty and the risk of worsening mobile service quality and network connectivity.
Media reported that Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev discussed charging mobile users for more than 15 GB of international traffic per month with telecom operators.
Forbes reported that the ministry was considering limits on foreign-domain traffic.
Meduza and BFM.ru reported on the proposal and the ministry’s ongoing work on the issues.
- Proposed traffic route
- All traffic from foreign domains could pass through technical systems used to counter threats.
- Limit
- The threshold for restricting foreign traffic has not been set.
- Possible legislation
- A telecommunications industry reform bill.
- Earlier proposal
- A charge for more than 15 GB of international traffic per month on mobile networks.
- Budget allocation
- 60 billion rubles for traffic filtering over the next three years.
4 sources
Russia’s Digital Development Ministry considers limiting foreign internet traffic for Russian users
Минцифры хочет ввести лимит на зарубежный трафик
Доменная печь: Минцифры может ввести лимит на потребление зарубежного трафика
What people are saying
These issues are currently being worked through, but it is premature to say which of them, and in what form, will be included in the final version of the amendments.
A Russian website on foreign hosting will be classified as foreign, while a server rented in Russia will be classified as domestic.
I do not see a paradoxical technical problem. There are no difficulties with counting traffic or charging for it.