Apple then disabled its Private Relay feature (which enhances web browsing privacy) for users in Russia.
Google also removed YouTube videos giving advice on how to vote strategically in the elections.
In the past, large tech companies have generallyignored censorship requestsfrom the Russian government.
So why did the US tech giants finally cave in to pressure?
The answer provides a glimpse into how Russia, a sophisticated cyber superpower, is building its sovereign internet.
It is preserving control, but without isolating itself from the broader internet.
Is digital democracy a delusion?
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Google used to have dont be evil as itsunofficial mottoand within its code of conduct.
It now proclaimsits missionis to organize the worlds information and make it universally accessible and useful.
Applesofficial policyis that where national law and international human rights standards differ, we follow the higher standard.
But many experts have been skeptical; US researcher Evgeny Morozov famously called cyber-utopianism a delusion.
Adding to this, authoritarian governments have begun to develop ways to avoid the democratizing effects of the internet.
One key strategy is to construct a sovereign internet that isolates itself from the rest of the web.
Navalny has relied heavily on this to build his political movement.
Until recently, the Russian state struggled to regulate this activity, allowing Navalny to amass a large following.
In fact, efforts to regulate tech platforms have seemed ineffective.
For instance, in 2018, the governmentsattempt to banthe messaging app Telegram collapsed into a farce.
It had been a difficult two years for the Russian regime.
The pandemic exposed serious deficiencies in governance, and polls showed weakening support for the ruling party.
The ruling party first responded with a vicious crackdown on the political opposition.
In February, Navalny was sent to prison.
In addition, the Russian statesharpened its toolsfor internet censorship.
Meanwhile, sophisticated techniques were developed toslow downinternet access to targeted platforms.
Operating largely from exile, Navalnys team continued to rely on the internet to influence the Russian parliamentary election.
The app was initially made available through Apples and Googles app stores.
First, the state wouldprosecuteRussia-based employees of Google and Apple.
Facing an escalating series of threats, the tech giants eventually backed down and removed the app.
A new model of the sovereign internet?
The Russian regime secured a key win in its attempt to build a sovereign internet.
And this poses two worrying questions.
Will other authoritarian countries follow Russias lead?
And how can opposition movements that rely on big tech for their democratic organization respond?
