In Russia, 'White Lists' Promote Loyal Players Amid Internet Restrictions, Says Ukrainian Intelligence

The Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service (SBU) has disclosed information regarding the implementation of a 'white lists' system in Russia, which limits access to internet resources for companies that do not meet state requirements. According to experts, this system exhibits anti-competitive characteristics, as access to audiences is granted not to those companies offering superior products, but solely to those selected by the government.

The situation in the banking sector is particularly striking: out of more than 300 financial institutions, only a handful have made it onto this list. Elvira Nabiullina, the head of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, confirmed that such a system restricts competition and compels entrepreneurs to turn to large banks, even when smaller institutions offer more favorable conditions for clients.

Similar practices are observed in other sectors, including retail and digital services. For instance, companies like 'Vkusno i Tochka', 'Pyaterochka', 'Yandex', and VK enjoy privileged positions not due to market advantages, but because of their presence on the 'white lists'. Smaller players, who are not included in this list, risk remaining unnoticed by users, particularly during the enforcement of restrictions.

Furthermore, the 'white lists' system is used as a direct pressure tool on businesses. Companies that continue to serve users with VPNs may be excluded from the list, which would effectively lead to a loss of access to their audience. The options for such companies are limited: either comply with state policies on traffic filtering or resign themselves to being pushed out of the market.

There is also a third option related to financial aspects. Although specific sums have not yet been disclosed, it is clear that they will not be trivial. Sergey Kiriyenko, who has a direct or indirect role in the formation and revision of the 'white lists', oversees domestic policy and information-communication infrastructure. This configuration creates broad opportunities for informal pressure that goes beyond any technical regulation.

“Ultimately, the 'white lists' have transformed into something more than just a registry of permitted websites. It is a mechanism through which the state controls access to consumers, and loyalty to the Kremlin becomes the new currency of competitiveness,” the SBU noted.

It is worth recalling that earlier, Ukrinform reported on Russia's plans to ban incoming international calls from a number of 'unfriendly countries' without prior consent from the subscriber, as well as to introduce mandatory labeling for such calls.

Join our channels on Telegram, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest news updates.