Internet Backbone Provider Severs Ties With Russia Due To 'Increasingly Uncertain Security Situation': Report

An internet backbone provider that routes data across intercontinental connections has severed ties with Russian customers following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

New Delhi: An internet backbone provider that routes data across intercontinental connections has severed ties with Russian customers following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The internet backbone provider is a US-based company named Cogent Communications, which, in a letter to Russian customers, cited "economic sanctions" and "the increasingly uncertain security situation" as the motives behind its total shutdown in Russia, The Washington Post reported.

The letter written to Russian customers by Cogent Communications was obtained by The Post. Cogent is one of the world's largest internet backbone providers and serves customers in 50 countries, including a number of high-profile Russian companies.

Cogent told American technology news website The Verge that it "terminated its contracts" with Russian customers in compliance with the European Union's move to ban Russian state-backed media outlets. 

Who Are Cogent’s Most Prominent Russian Customers?

According to a report published by The Verge, Doug Madory, an internet analyst at network tracking company Kentik, pointed out that some of the company's most prominent Russian customers include the state-backed telecom giant Rostelecom and Russian search engine Yandex. Madory said that the most prominent Russian customers also include two of Russia's largest carriers, namely MegaFon and VEON.

Madory noted that unplugging Russia from Cogent's global network will likely result in slower connectivity, according to the report. However, he said that it will not completely disconnect Russians from the internet. Instead, traffic from Cogent's former customers will fall back on other backbone providers in the country. This will result in network congestion.

The report stated that there is no indication as to whether other internet backbone providers will also suspend services in Russia. 

Criticism From Digital Rights Activists

However, Cogent's decision to disconnect itself from Russia has been at the receiving end of criticism from digital rights activists. They argue that the internet backbone provider severing its ties with Russians could prevent Russian civilians from accessing important information about the invasion. Eva Galperin, the director of cybersecurity at the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation, said on Twitter that cutting off Russians from internet access cuts them off from sources of internet news, and the ability to organise anti-war protests.

Mikhail Klimarev, the executive director of Russia's Internet Protection Society, told The Post that he would like to convey to people all over the world that if they turn off the Internet in Russia, then this means cutting off 140 million people from at least some truthful information. 

He said that as long as the Internet exists, people can find out the truth. "There will be no Internet — all people in Russia will only listen to propaganda," The Post quoted Klimarev as saying.

What Has The CEO Of Cogent Said?

Dave Schaeffer, Chief Executive Officer of Cogent Communications, told The Post that the company's move is not intended to "hurt anyone". Schaeffer also clarified that the company does not want to keep Russian civilians from accessing the Internet. 

The goal of Cogent is to prevent the Russian government from using the company's networks for cyberattacks and propaganda, The Post reported.

Cogent Communications, in a statement to business technology news website ZDNet, said that the company was also complying with the European Union Regulation 2022/350 passed on March 1, 2022, with respect to the blocking of certain media. 

Quoting a company spokesperson, a ZDNet report said that Cogent is not otherwise restricting or blocking traffic originating from or destined for Russia. The spokesperson said that Cogent continues to provide services to Ukraine. 

Access To Certain News Sources & Social Media Platforms Banned In Russia

Hours after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) brought back its shortwave radio service in Ukraine and Russia, access to the BBC websites was restricted on Friday, the state-owned Russian RIA news agency reported.

State communication watchdog Roskomnadzor also restricted access to Radio Liberty and the Meduza media outlet. 

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, was completely blocked in Russia, according to media reports. Google Play also appeared to be blocked.

The Russian government passed a new law on Friday, banning "fake news". 

Russia has also restricted access to Twitter and has threatened to block Wikipedia over "false messages" about the war in Ukraine, The Verge reported.