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Authorities prepare a "VPN tax" and ban Apple ID top-ups. How will users and free internet defenders respond: analyzing the main questions

The Ministry of Digital Development announced from April 1st a ban on paying for Apple services from mobile operator accounts. Additionally, according to Forbes sources, new measures to pressure VPN service users were discussed at a ministry meeting: an additional charge for international traffic, limiting VPN use for accessing platforms on "white lists," and potentially administrative fines for VPN use. Minister Maksut Shadaev personally stated he would "like to avoid" the latter measure. IT experts Mikhail Klimarev and Leonid Yuldashov told "Novaya-Europe" that the technical implementation of many of these measures raises questions. However, experts agree that completely blocking VPNs in Russia, at least for now, will not be possible – it will only lead to new costs for users and businesses. "Novaya-Europe," together with experts, answers questions about what users and defenders of a free internet can do to counter the new restrictions.

From April 1, Russians will be banned from paying for Apple services from their phone accounts - RBC

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation has instructed the 'big four' operators to restrict payments for Apple services from mobile phone accounts from April 1. RBC reports this, citing sources. Thus, from April 1, users of Apple services in Russia will not be able to top up their Apple ID balance. The operators were told, among other reasons, about the need to prevent payments for VPN services, RBC's interlocutor noted. TASS and Interfax previously reported that the Ministry of Digital Development plans to temporarily suspend payments for Apple services from mobile phone accounts. According to media reports, the Ministry of Digital Development believes that restrictions by operators may encourage Apple to return Russian services to the App Store. 'Temporary restrictions by operators may encourage the technology company to comply with Russian legislation, as the lost profit would otherwise be too great,' an Interfax interlocutor noted. In March 2022, Apple suspended all sales and deliveries of equipment to Russia, and also limited the operation of most services. Since then, it has only been possible to top up the balance of the App Store, iCloud, and Apple Music in Russia from a phone account or using gift cards.

Russia Plans to Introduce Fees for VPN Services — Forbes

On March 28, the head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Maksut Shadayev, at a meeting with representatives of the 'big four' operators, urged them to introduce fees for using VPN services. Forbes reports this, citing sources. This information is confirmed by RBC interlocutors. According to the publication, Shadayev proposed introducing a fee for the use of more than 15 GB of international traffic per month on mobile networks. One of Forbes' sources claims that the innovations may come into effect by May 1. Additionally, the head of the Ministry of Digital Development urged digital platforms VK, Ozon, Avito, Wildberries, Yandex, and others not to allow clients accessing their sites via VPN. According to a Forbes interlocutor, Shadayev also did not rule out the possibility of introducing administrative liability for using blocking circumvention tools, expressing hope that this could be avoided. Sources of the publication suggest that the Ministry of Digital Development's initiative stems from a closed directive from Vladimir Putin. Earlier, RBC reported that Shadayev instructed mobile operators to prohibit Russians from topping up their Apple ID balance from their mobile phone accounts, citing the need to prevent payments for VPN services as one of the reasons.