It appears that the world’s social media giants will have more problems with government agencies in 2021. According to a recent article published in the Financial Express, Russia is considering blocking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms. Russia claims that the network’s attempts at censorship is the reason for the block.
How can those who live in Russia manage this type of block? Social media networks are popular all over the world. There is a remedy for those who live in Russia and those who visit. A VPN can restore access. Here is a closer look at the situation and what you need to know.
Facebook and Social Media Sites Targeted for Blocking
The past few years have not been great ones for Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook. Soon after the 2016 US presidential election, Facebook was embroiled in allegations of Russian-led election interference. The social network later was accused of privacy violations, and also of turning a blind eye to disinformation and fake news posts.
For its part, Facebook has denied most of the allegations. During the most recent election cycle it also took some small steps toward censoring content that was blatantly misleading. Now, that approach to censorship has the Russian government angry enough to consider blocking Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in the country.
Another problem it that Russia claims these social networks in addition to Instagram have failed to remove posts and links to content that is prohibited in Russia. A new law passed by Russian lawmakers now awaits Vladimir Putin’s signature. When signed into the law, the measure will allow Russia borad powers of censorship over social media networks and other Internet content.
Other Countries Are Unhappy With Social Media
Russia is not the only country that is concerned about the influence of social media networks. The UK, numerous countries in Europe, and even the US have now placed Facebook and its cousins under government scrutiny.
In the final days of 2020, US lawmakers approved a relief package for American citizens. President Donald Trump called on Congress to increase the relief, but also demanded social media reforms that would remove a liability shield from Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms. The US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has now tied the two demands together.
The effort comes as some governments are unhappy with the lack of regulation on social media channels. Some lawmakers feel that Facebook should be liable for the content that is shared on its platform.
What Will Happen in 2021 With Facebook in Russia and Other Countries?
If the current political climate continues in Russia, fans of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube could reasonably expect their access to social media networks to be restricted. The Kremlin is not known to be a fan of an unregulated Internet. It prefers to exert control over what Russian citizens are allowed to consume via social media.
In other countries, the picture is more complex. There may not be an outright block of the networks, or even censorship, but regulation could be coming. The regulatory measures could push social media networks to police themselves to a greater degree.
Use a VPN to Access Facebook and Twitter in Russia
Those who live in Russia will have an option if the state begins to block social media networks. A VPN is able to restore access to blocked content in Russia. Those who live in the country or those who travel there are able to use a VPN from VPN Accounts to connect to a VPN server in another country.
When you use a VPN to connect to the Internet, the ISP that you are using cannot see your IP address. It only sees the IP address of the VPN server. This means that you can be located in Russia and appear to be accessing the Internet from the US.
When you use a VPN server that is located in an area where Facebook and other social media networks are not blocked, your access is restored.
There are also other reasons that you might want to consider using a VPN in Russia. The government is known to monitor ISPs within the country. You can use a VPN to encrypt and monitor your connection. This will help you evade surveillance and give you privacy in your web browsing.
We encourage you to take action now before your access to social media networks in Russia is denied. We have many different VPN plans for all budgets. We have a vast number of server locations, and our security is built upon the most effective encryption protocols. Don’t trust a free VPN. Contact us today.
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