On Tuesday, March 16th, Russian authorities blocked access to encrypted email startup Skiff. This is just the latest effort by the Kremlin to gain greater control over digital communications within the country. Skiff is a secure email system developed by Parus Technology, which was founded by a group of security professionals from Moscow. The company offers encrypted email, which is now inaccessible to Russian internet users.
The blocking of Skiff follows other recent steps taken by the Russian government to control what people can say and do online. Last summer, the government passed a law requiring all messaging services to store and share their users’ data with the government upon request. This measure has been widely criticized by digital rights activists and technology companies for its violation of basic privacy rights. The blocking of Skiff is the latest move in Russia’s quest to suppress freedom of expression online.
Skiff is just one of many encrypted messaging services and private communications platforms being blocked in Russia. Other blocked providers include Telegram and Viber, both of which offer end-to-end encryption. Telegram also has a feature known as “secret chats,” which allows users to use a self-destructing timer for messages they send. Last summer, Russian authorities blocked access to these secure messaging services in an effort to crack down on the spread of “extremist” content.
The blocking of Skiff is not the first time that Russia has targeted a secure messaging service. Back in 2014, the government blocked anonymous social media platform Diaspora for allegedly containing “extremist” content. The government has also blocked Tor, a secure browsing service, because it allows users to access hidden services and access censored websites.
The Russian government’s latest move to block Skiff points to its increasing eagerness to control the flow of information within its borders. By blocking encrypted messages and private communication services, the government is making it more difficult for users to freely express their opinions and seek out reliable sources of news and information. This is a worrying trend that could further damage Russia’s poor record on press freedom and human rights.
