Russia is Banning Discord

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Russia is Banning Discord

Key Takeaways

  • Russia is planning to ban access to Discord within the country “in the coming weeks,” marking another severed connection between Russia and the Western world.
  • Russia cites multiple rulings against Discord for “failing to restrict access to banned information” as a major factor in banning the platform.
  • The Discord ban is expected to heavily impact several Russian game developers who use the platform as a primary source of communication with the gaming community.

As a long-time gamer with roots deeply entrenched in the global gaming community, I find myself disheartened by Russia’s decision to potentially ban Discord within its borders. Over the years, Discord has become an integral part of my gaming experience, connecting me with fellow enthusiasts across the globe and fostering a sense of camaraderie that transcends geographical boundaries.

In the near future, there are indications that Russia might prohibit the use of Discord, thereby limiting access to this highly popular messaging service within the country. Since its introduction in 2015, Discord has grown to become one of the leading messaging and community apps on the internet, with over 200 million active users worldwide each month. This platform has emerged as a primary meeting place for gamers seeking like-minded individuals across various communities, while also providing official servers for numerous games. However, it appears that a specific group of Discord users may be denied access in Russia.

In the midst of the continuing conflict between Ukraine and Russia dating back to 2022, the Russian government has imposed numerous restrictions and prohibitions on Western services. For instance, Instagram was banned shortly after the war’s outbreak, with YouTube following suit earlier this year under a Russian government ban. The government has also targeted several well-liked video games within the nation, such as Apex Legends and The Last of Us, by imposing restrictions. It appears that Discord may soon join their ranks and go dark in Russia.

Russia Planning to Ban Discord in the Near Future

According to PCGamer reports, there are plans for Russia to soon impose a ban on Discord nationwide. This decision comes after several rulings from Russia’s media regulator against Discord this month, stating that the platform didn’t adequately prevent users from accessing information prohibited by the country. Some Russian users have already experienced outages and have turned to VPNs to keep using Discord. Kommersant, a Russian news outlet, says the ban could be enforced “in the near future.

The potential Russian ban on Discord may significantly affect the gaming community within Russia. As reported by Vasily Ovchinnikov, head of the Russian Organization for the Development of the Video Game Industry, numerous game developers in Russia mainly conduct their operations through Discord. Ovchinnikov highlighted that these developers rely heavily on Discord for communication with their fanbase and customer support, as there is currently no domestic alternative platform available in Russia.

In simple terms, Discord’s ban within Russia is yet another significant instance of the nation isolating itself from the West during the ongoing conflict. There have been allegations that Russia has endeavored to create domestic alternatives to well-known gaming platforms, such as a potential Russian counterpart to Unreal Engine 5. Previously, various popular services and games, including Sony, Crunchyroll, Pokemon GO, and others, stopped operating in the country following the commencement of the war in 2022. The ban on Discord would represent another significant setback for the Russian gaming community.

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2024-09-30 19:05