JOURNAL ARTICLE

Russia's VPN Crackdown Caused Bank Outage, Telegram Founder Says.

  • Published In: Bloomberg.com, 2026. P. N.PAG 1 of 2

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 2

Abstract

The article focuses on Russia's efforts to restrict virtual private network (VPN) use amid a crackdown on the Telegram messaging platform, which billionaire founder Pavel Durov said triggered a widespread banking outage across the country. Russian authorities have intensified controls on internet access, limiting platforms like Telegram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Snapchat, while promoting a state-run "super-app" called Max. Attempts to block VPNs, used by millions to bypass restrictions, reportedly caused disruptions in banking services due to overloads in filtering systems managed by Russia's communications watchdog. Additionally, measures such as disabling mobile top-ups and potential fees for VPN use are being considered to further limit access. Durov compared Russia’s situation to Iran’s digital restrictions and affirmed Telegram’s commitment to circumventing government blocks. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Bloomberg.com. 2026/04, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Communication and Mass Media
  • Publication Date:2026
  • Accession Number:192774539
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