Russia aims to prohibit Discord in a potential shake-up for online gamers. The ban is reportedly set to take place “in the coming weeks,” adding Discord to a growing list of Western services no longer accessible in Russia.
This decision comes as the Russian government tightens control over online platforms, citing concerns over “banned information” circulating within the app. With more than 200 million monthly users worldwide, Discord’s ban will strongly influence Russian gamers and developers who depend on it for connection.
Kremlin’s crackdown: Is your favorite app next?
Russia has shut down Discord, following a trend of cutting off major Western online services since Ukraine launched its confrontation. Instagram, YouTube, and PvP titles like Apex Legends have been removed due to the government’s effort to restrict access to perceived threats. Russian officials claim Discord is unwilling to ban harmful materials as they request. At this point, some individuals in Russia experience trouble accessing the platform and utilize VPNs to maintain communication.
Russia is nearing the end of Discord as a platform. Reports indicate that the platform will soon face a nationwide ban from the Russian government. This move follows a series of rulings by Russia’s media watchdog, which claims that Discord hasn’t taken sufficient action to block content prohibited by the state. News of the potential ban has started troubling users accessing the app as they report disruptions to their service.
Should the ban take effect, the gaming community in Russia could face serious consequences. Discord is an important resource for game makers, facilitating communication with players and responding to their issues. Vasily Ovchinnikov, head of Russia’s Organization for the Development of the Video Game Industry, reveals that Discord is important to Russian developers. No account has emerged of a local replacement to close the void created by Discord’s exit.
Game over for Russian devs?
The looming Discord ban isn’t Russia’s first rodeo regarding restricting access to Western platforms. Since the Ukraine situation started, the nation has progressively stopped participating in worldwide internet services. Instagram, YouTube, and several well-known video games led the way in getting blocked. Conventional services, including Sony’s PlayStation and Crunchyroll, have encountered disruption. The latest event is Discord, which appears as a casualty in Russia’s push to separate its virtual space from the West.
While Russia tries to secure government-developed alternatives in gaming services, it has yet to establish solid support. Announcements of a Russian-developed alternative to Unreal Engine 5 are around; still, the shortfall of popular local options is increasingly bothersome to the country’s technology and game enthusiasts. Many consider Discord’s suspension merely one segment of a broader history of digital separation that began with the war.
As Russia increasingly controls the internet, more widely used platforms may see similar limitations that frustrate Russian gamers and developers trying to reach their international counterparts. Will authorities in Russia create a different option or trim down the digital scene with each new restriction?
Russia blocks the tech service Discord in the latest crackdown (Update 09.10.2024)
The latest step comes as Russia blocks the tech platform Discord by the communications regulator Roskomnadzor. According to an October 8 report by TASS, Discord has been accused of violating Russian law, specifically for allowing posts that detail extremism, drug sales, and other illegal content. While Discord had been fined $36,150 for non-compliance with Russian demands, the platform now faces a full ban in Russia. This move follows a wider Russian effort to control the flow of information to its citizens.
Additionally, Roskomnadzor claims that restricting Discord is necessary to prevent the platform from being used for “terrorist and extremist services.” Alongside Discord, Russia continues to target other foreign tech companies, including Google, as part of its tightening grip over digital communication platforms.
The ban is part of Russia’s broader initiative to limit Western media’s reach, with platforms like YouTube experiencing slower speeds and partial blocks. U.S.-based companies have increasingly found it difficult to comply with Russia’s ever-changing laws, making their presence in the country more precarious.
In an unrelated development, Discord was also blocked in Turkey, linked to public outrage after a murderer’s conversations on Discord following a tragic murder-suicide case. This adds another layer to Discord’s global challenges as it faces restrictions in various countries.
Image credits: Furkan Demirkaya/Ideogram
