PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, June 11: First, the latest news from Russia. Then, how cutting-edge surveillance technology at the World Cup is fuelling privacy concerns. And finally, why American women are embracing witchcraft retreats in Ireland.
First, a look at developments in Russia. Independent outlet Meduza reports that the country is building up military infrastructure along its western border, including near Finland and Norway. The publication interviewed a former Finnish intelligence officer who said new barracks could accommodate up to 17,000 troops, enabling a significant expansion of recruitment. A Finnish Army commander estimates that Russia could eventually deploy 80,000 soldiers along the Finnish border, compared with around 20,000 previously. This is the kind of information that is difficult to find in Russia's state-controlled media. According to Radio Free Europe, after tightening censorship following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin is now considering creating its own state-run VPN. Virtual Private Networks have been widely used by Russians to access websites blocked by the authorities and conceal their online activity. The proposal has been met with scepticism. Radio Free Europe quotes exiled Russian journalist Dmitry Kolezev, who wrote on Telegram: "What a joke — first the state blocks everything and then it creates a state VPN to bypass its own blocking." He added that it was probably "a very good business" idea for the state.
