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posted by chromas on Wednesday April 17 2019, @03:06PM   Printer-friendly
from the an-internet-vs-The-Internet dept.

The Russian parliament has approved a law creating a separate, domestic network, separate from the Internet. This Russian network of networks will be fully isolatable and will mean that the country's communications will become autonomous and able to continue functioning even when the plug is pulled on Russia's connections to the Internet at large. Concerns increase that this move will be used more for control of content and even just plain censorship, and make any attempts at circumventing restrictions much more difficult. The law is expected to take effect November 1st. Russia has already banned certain programs, such as Telegram.

One of the law's goals is to keep as much of the data exchanged between Russian internet users within the country's borders as possible. This aim may sound like a move to protect Russian users from external threats, but rights groups have warned that the new measures could ultimately be directed at Kremlin critics rather than international adversaries.

The idea of increasing the government's control over the internet is part of a more long-term national policy trend. In 2017, officials said they wanted 95% of internet traffic to be routed locally by 2020. Since 2016, a law has required social networks to store data about Russian users on servers within the country. The law was officially presented as an anti-terrorism measure — but many criticized it as an attempt to control online platforms that can be used to organize anti-government demonstrations.

Also at Silicon: Russian Parliament Passes Bill To Isolate Internet.


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  • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Wednesday April 17 2019, @05:21PM (1 child)

    by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Wednesday April 17 2019, @05:21PM (#831164) Homepage Journal

    The Congress, or Parlament of Russia isn't letting the 1st. Amendment stop them. And, neither are we. I would certainly be open to closing areas where we are at war with somebody. I sure as hell don't want to let people who want to kill us and kill our nation use our Internet. Radical Islamic Terrorists are using the Internet better than we are using the Internet and it was our idea. I'm not talking about closing the Internet. You could close it. But what I like even better than that is getting our smartest, and getting our best to infiltrate their Internet, so that we know exactly where they're going, exactly where the terrorists are going to be. ISIS is almost totally defeated -- we have defeated ISIS in Syria. ZERO ISIS in Syria, because of me. And we had some help with that one from Russia, they did a great job.

    But, so much more to do. You look at what's happening in Germany, you look at what's happening Monday night in France. France, who would believe this. France. So horrible to watch. They let their Internet get totally out of control. And now, they're paying the price for that. And it's a very heavy price indeed. Very heavy. It won't happen here, folks. We've got to talk to President Putin and some people that really know what's going on. About closing that Internet up in some way. Must act quickly!!!!

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  • (Score: 2) by gtomorrow on Wednesday April 17 2019, @07:40PM

    by gtomorrow (2230) on Wednesday April 17 2019, @07:40PM (#831270)

    But what I like even better than that is getting our smartest, and getting our best to infiltrate their Internet, so that we know exactly where they're going, exactly where the terrorists are going to be.

    Then hire these people [zdnet.com] immediately, Mr President! Or maybe the FBI has already...?