Pre-election Stress Tests Result in Internet Outages in Russia
The most popular messaging app Telegram experienced a temporary outage in Russia due to security services conducting stress tests on online resources. Previously blocked social media apps, including Instagram and Facebook, suddenly became available. The cause of the incidents is still being investigated, but it is speculated that they were related to pre-election activities.
Temporary Outage of Telegram and Other Sites in Russia
Telegram, the most widely used messaging app in Russia, suffered a temporary outage as security services conducted stress tests on online resources. This outage also affected other websites, while previously blocked social media apps such as Instagram and Facebook became suddenly accessible.
The monitoring center for Russia's public communications network reported a 'massive failure' of Telegram, but did not provide a specific reason for the outage. Telegram did not respond to requests for comment.
Russia's digital ministry stated that the services were in the process of being restored both within and outside of Russia. Russian telecom operators confirmed that their networks were operating normally.
The Cause of the Incidents Under Investigation
Andrei Svintsov, a deputy head of the State Duma parliamentary committee on information policy, attributed the outages to pre-election activities. He stated that the special services were checking the functionality of internet and cybersecurity infrastructure systems in Russia prior to the upcoming presidential election.
Svintsov added that banned sites, resources, and social networks would have restricted access once again. However, Anton Gorelkin, another member of the parliamentary committee, cautioned against immediately blaming the Russian state. He noted that incidents like these could occur due to various reasons, including human error or hacker attacks.
The focus should be on how quickly the failures are resolved, as the extent of damage to the Russian economy depends on it.
Previously Blocked Social Media Apps Suddenly Accessible
Following the outage, previously blocked social media apps like Instagram and Facebook suddenly became available in Russia. Reuters reporters in Moscow confirmed that they were able to browse Instagram without needing a virtual private network (VPN) for the first time since the blocks were imposed.
Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has taken steps to block certain foreign tech companies, including Facebook and Instagram. The country has been making efforts to improve its domestic internet infrastructure and has even conducted tests where it temporarily disconnected from the global internet.
While the exact cause of the Telegram outages remains unclear, some have speculated that Russia was trying to block foreign resources prior to the election. However, it is important to consider other possible causes as well.
