‘Digital Iron Curtain:’ Major Internet Backbone Providers Shut Down Service in Russia

Two major American companies that provide internet services to Russia has announced plans to pull out of the country. Lumen and Cogent, part of the global internet backbone, are shutting down communications with Russia in what some are referring to as a “digital iron curtain.”

The Verge reports that Lumen, a U.S. company that provides essential internet services, has reportedly pulled out of Russia less than a week after its major competitor Cogent announced it also wouldn’t be providing its services in the country. As more tech giants pull out of Russia, the “digital Iron Curtain” between Russia and the West continues to grow.

Lumen detailed its decision to shut down its business in Russia, stating it was “due to increased security Risk,” in the country. Lumen stated: “We have not yet experienced network disruptions, but given the increasingly uncertain environment and the heightened risk of state action, we took this move to ensure the security of our and our customers’ networks, as well as the ongoing integrity of the global Internet.”