Copyright © 2021 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Zelenskyy prolongs ban on Russian social networks

Zelenskyy in his office. Source: zahid.net
Edited by: Sonia Maryn
On 14 May 2020, President Zelenskyy signed a decree that prolongs sanctions against Russian social networks and other internet-platforms in Ukraine. Sanctions were imposed in 2017 by former President Poroshenko to prevent the spread of disinformation, gathering of personal data by Russians, and limiting the financial profit from Russian platforms in Ukraine. This decision was criticized for inefficiency by some Ukrainian experts. Also, the ban raised concerns regarding possible censorship in Ukraine. However, three years later, it does not appear to have led to any form of censorship.

Zelenskyy signed the decree prolonging the ban, 24 hours before the previous one would have expired. A day earlier, MP Roman Lozynskyi, Holos faction, collected 150 signatures to initiate an extraordinary session of Parliament where a resolution calling upon Zelenskyy to prolong the decree (prepared by the Security and Defence Council) was adopted.

The ban helps fighting Russian propaganda, but Ukrainian alternative platforms and software can help even more

During his pre-election campaign, Zelenskyy was skeptical about the efficiency of the sanctions against Russian social networks. Now, having been in power for more than a year, he is in support of the ban. During the last three years, the ban has significantly reduced the audience of Russian social networks (Vkontankte, Odnoklassniki); e-mail service (Mail.ru); search platform (Yandex); and other platforms and IT companies. However, users can still access these services using a VPN. At the same time, Russian bots are also successfully operating through Facebook and Viber.

According to the Ukrainian analysts working for the NATO StratCom, the ban of Russian social networks led to diminishing activity in networks from Ukraine four-fold. At the same time, those who are logging onto the networks through the VPN have become more radicalized against Ukraine than average users. In general, people who continued using Russian internet services, despite the ban, started posting more anti-Ukrainian content.

Posting Dynamics in Vkonakte from Ukraine. Source: Stratcom.

Zelenskyy also lifted sanctions from companies of the “1C” Group that were developing accounting software for Ukrainian companies, as well as for the government. These companies were working mostly in Ukraine but were owned by Russians. Reportedly, 1C was behind hacker attacks against the Ukrainian government in 2016. Yet, after the first sanctions in 2017, Ukrainians continued using 1C software — due to few alternatives. This ban did not work, and the company still holds 98% of the Ukrainian market today.

Why the ban is not censorship

Critics of the ban often claim it limits freedom of speech — in particular, pro-Russian party Oppositional Platform says so. The party was against the ban in 2017. This year, they voted once more against the Parliament’s resolution that urged Zelenskyy to sign the prolongation decree.

It is important to clarify that the government does not ban content per se. Rather, it limits access to Russian media platforms and social networks. This limit can be violated in Ukraine by a personal user who would not be fined. It simply requires a little more time to access banned products.

Such a policy is proving to be an effective tool to properly balance the need to limit fake and Russian propaganda while securing the freedom of speech. Noteworthy is that this is a typical tool used by countries against pornography. Mykola Riabchuk, Ukrainian journalist and political analyst, states the intent is not to ban fully, but to render access far more difficult, for example, not immediately available on the first page.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also recommended that the president prolong the ban on Russian social networks. Yet, limiting access to Russian disinformation at all is the hardest task for Ukraine. The recent incident in the village of Novi Sanzhary is an example. Manipulated by virtual curators from Russia, locals in this village rioted in protest of the arrival of Ukrainian evacuees from China, because of the distortion of facts about COVID-19 and the supposed danger posed to the villagers.

The SBU regularly discloses bot farms or individuals in Ukraine that are managed from Russia to spread disinformation. In particular, the activity of bots has increased since March, to start panic in Ukraine due to coronavirus. The Russian disinformation campaign is also advocating to overthrow the constitutional order in Ukraine.

Edited by: Sonia Maryn
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Total
0
Shares
Related Posts