Russian authorities block paywall removal site Archive.today

Russian authorities have blocked paywall bypass site Archive.today and its associated domains, citing a decision by Roskomnadzor, though the specific reason remains unclear. Despite the block, users were able to access the site through various devices. Previously, Wikipedia editors removed numerous links to Archive.today due to its use of visitors' browsers for generating network traffic against critical bloggers.

Key Points

• 1. Archive.today and its domains were blocked by Russian authorities as of Monday.
• 2. Roskomnadzor stated that access is limited but did not provide a reason.
• 3. Users reported continued access to Archive sites through different networks.
• 4. Archive.today allows archiving of content behind paywalls and log-ins.
• 5. Wikipedia editors removed links to Archive.today due to harmful coding practices.

Relevance

• In recent years, online censorship has been a growing concern globally, with many countries increasing internet regulation.
• The rise of paywalls and subscription models in media has led to increased interest in paywall bypass tools like Archive.today.
• By 2025, censorship technology is expected to evolve, impacting how information is accessed online.

The blocking of Archive.today highlights ongoing tensions between internet freedom and state control, reflecting a wider trend in censorship amidst rising subscription-based content models.