Moscow police stop people on the street to inspect messages and pictures on the phone

In a veritable intimidation campaign against their own citizens, the Moscow police randomly stop people on the street to inspect text messages and pictures stored on their mobile phones. Those who oppose it are not allowed to pass the checkpoints.

According to information provided on the Telegram by a reporter named Anya Vasileva, police officers near Detskiy Mir, a popular Russian toy store on Lubyanka Square in Moscow, stop people on the street and order them to show their phones for verification, being targeted any pictures and text messages exchanges. While the refusal to present the phone for inspection leads to blocking access to the area “protected” by the representatives of the authorities, we can only assume what could be the consequences in case of discovery of content considered incriminating.

“I came and asked him why I was doing this. The police checked my press card and refused to comment “, said Vasileva. “I remind you that phones are protected by end-to-end encryption. It is illegal for the police to order you to show them the contents of your phone! ”

In a video posted by Vasileva, several people stopped on the street can be seen, summoned to hand over their phones to inspect the exchanges of messages and photo collections to the alleged police officers, but presented with their faces covered and in full equipment, specific to the police forces. intervention.

Russia’s new intimidation tactics are apparently covered by a new “anti-misinformation” package signed by President Vladimir Putin, which provides for sentences of up to 15 years in prison for anyone who distributes “false information” about the war in Ukraine. The law would also punish those who support sanctions against Russia or call on Putin to end the attack in Ukraine, according to the Russian publication Kommersant.

Earlier this week, Russia blocked access to most Western technology platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, forcing the closure of any “unfriendly” information channels to the regime.