Is Discord Banned in Russia: An Analysis and Current Status

The ongoing debate about internet censorship in Russia often includes discussions about platforms like Discord. This article explores the current status of Discord in Russia, elucidating any official bans or restrictions. It also delves into the reasons behind potential bans and the broader context of internet regulation in the country.

The Current Status of Discord in Russia

As of the latest update in August 2023, Discord has not been officially banned in Russia. However, access to the platform has been intermittently restricted due to government regulations and concerns over the use of the platform for communication among activists and opposition groups. The situation regarding internet censorship in Russia is dynamic and subject to frequent changes, making it essential to consult the latest news sources for the most current information.

Tom's Experience with Discord Ban in Russia

Tom

I just registered in Discord tomorrow. It was my first registration on Discord ever. I got SMS verified, email by link, and clicked a lot of Jiraffes on their CAPTCHAs. And instantly, the first time I tried to log in, I received an email from Discord saying that I was banned for no reason. QuickBan: Two minutes after the start of registration. No single message written. I have violated community rules by… living in Russia Nice. It looks like Discord banned Russian The Empire Strikes Back: Never being there and probably never was.

Even Quora was banned in Russia a few days ago, August 11, as far as I know. But we have been living with this. Much more headaches are delivered by Western sites that ban Russian people via GeoIP. There are a bunch of 403 errors on random dotcoms like Oracle Community or many Cloudflare hosts.

Internet Censorship in Russia: A Broader Context

Interesting. No Discord and disagreement are permitted, however, might be punished. Like almost any society, Russia claims democracy and freedom of speech. Exceptions are probably only monarchies that honestly admit that “democracy” is irrelevant. Even known dictatorships claim being democratic, such as Cuba and Venezuela, and others. But it is rather big “But” – Discord could be penalized, typically for an unrelated or invented cause. It might be controlled at the local village, town, or at a larger scale province or country.

In the old Soviet Union, troublemakers were sometimes admitted to mental facilities based on the logic that being unhappy in a socialist paradise could only be due to mental instability. Indeed, this rather perverted logic led to the claim that the USSR was the most democratic country of its time.

Conclusion

The current status of Discord in Russia is not officially banned, but access can still be restricted based on government regulations. The reasons for such bans are often unclear and could be related to broader political or societal issues. As with other internet platforms, Russian Internet users face challenges with censorship and restrictions imposed by the government, making it important to stay informed about the latest developments.