new Delhi: An Internet backbone provider that routes data across intercontinental connections has severed ties with Russian customers following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Internet backbone provider Cogent Communications, a US-based company, cited “economic sanctions” and an “increasingly uncertain security situation” in Russia as the motives behind its total shutdown in a letter to Russian customers. quoted, Washington Post Reported.
The letter written by Cogent Communications to Russian customers was obtained by Post, Cogent is one of the world’s largest Internet backbone providers and serves customers in 50 countries, including several high-profile Russian companies.
Cogent told US technology news website ledge That it “terminated its contracts” with Russian customers in compliance with the European Union’s move to ban Russian state-backed media outlets.
Who are Cogent’s most prominent Russian customers?
According to a report published by ledgeSome of the company’s most prominent Russian clients include state-backed telecommunications giant Rostelecom and Russian search engine Yandex, said Doug Madori, an internet analyst at network tracking company Kentik. Madori said the most prominent Russian customers also include two of Russia’s biggest carriers, namely MegaFon and VEON.
According to the report, Madori said that unplugging Russia from Cogent’s global network will slow down connectivity. However, he said it would not completely disconnect Russians from the Internet. Instead, traffic from former Cogent customers will flow back to other backbone providers in the country. This will jam the network.
There is no indication that other Internet backbone providers will also suspend services in Russia, the report said.
Criticism of digital rights activists
However, Cogent’s decision to distance itself from Russia has faced criticism from digital rights activists. They argue that the Internet backbone provider could prevent Russian citizens from accessing vital information about the invasion by severing its ties with the Russians. Eva Galperin, director of cyber security at the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation, said on Twitter that cutting Russians off Internet access strips them of sources of Internet news and the ability to organize anti-war protests.
Mikhail Klimarev, executive director of the Internet Protection Society of Russia Post That he wants to tell people around the world that if they shut down the Internet in Russia, it means cutting off 140 million people from at least some true information.
He said that as long as there is internet, people can find out the truth. “There will be no Internet – everyone in Russia will only listen to propaganda,” Post Quoting Klimarev said.
What has the CEO of Cogent said?
Dave Schaefer, CEO of Cogent Communications Post That the company’s move is not intended to “hurt anyone”. Schaefer also clarified that the company does not want to block Russian citizens from accessing the Internet.
Cogent aims to prevent the Russian government from using the company’s network for cyberattacks and propaganda, Post Reported.
In a statement to Cogent Communications, the business technology news website zdnetSaid that the company is also complying with EU Regulation 2022/350, passed on March 1, 2022, regarding the blocking of certain media.
Quoting a company spokesperson, a zdnet The report states that Cogent is not otherwise restricting or blocking traffic to or from Russia. The spokesman said Cogent continues to provide services to Ukraine.
Access to certain news sources and social media platforms restricted in Russia
Access to BBC websites was restricted on Friday, hours after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) rolled back its shortwave radio service in Ukraine and Russia, the state-owned Russian RIA news agency reported.
State communications watchdog Roskomnadzor also restricted access to Radio Liberty and Meduza media outlets.
According to media reports, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, was completely blocked in Russia. Google Play also appeared to be blocked.
The Russian government passed a new law on Friday banning “fake news”.
Russia has also restricted access to Twitter and threatened to block Wikipedia over “false messages” about the war in Ukraine. ledge Reported.