from the First-casualty-in-war-is-the-truth dept.
GungnirSniper writes:
"ITV.com reports Russia's Federal Service for Supervision of Communications or Roskomnadzor published a statement online that it had been ordered by the general prosecutor's office to shut down pages on Russia's leading social media website, VKontakte. VK is Russia's equivalent to Facebook. Among the blocked pages are those of Ukrainian hardliners Right Sector and its leader Dmytro Yarosh. Many news outlets say only 13 pages are affected.
Last year, Russia began requiring sites to remove material that the officials determined was objectionable. At the time, Russian 'opposition leaders railed against the law as a crack in the doorway to broader Internet censorship. They say they worry that social networks, which have been used to arrange protests against President Vladimir Putin, will be stifled.'
Cybervandalism and information blackouts have begun."
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04 2014, @07:03AM
The Russians have a lot to learn from Uncle Sam.
They have to resort to Cybervandalism and information blackouts just so that they can get their own message across, unlike in the States, where half-truths and out right bold faces lies, which are being spewed out by the main-stream-media, have blanketed everything, emptying the oxygen for whatever truths that are left.
(Score: 1) by tibman on Tuesday March 04 2014, @02:21PM
I find the censorship interesting to. The US seems to allow any opposing view but takes note of it. The internet extends well beyond country borders and playing whack-a-mole internationally is not easy.
SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04 2014, @02:29PM
Just so they can get a message across to their own citizens? Who are not anyway beseiged by American mass media? Yeah. Right. You are a Putin shill. Go back to spamming The Guardian.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by nitehawk214 on Tuesday March 04 2014, @02:33PM
Oh, no worries, they are using lies and outright bullying as well. Its a combined forces assault.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2, Interesting) by FakeBeldin on Tuesday March 04 2014, @04:55PM
What I have seen so far is really worrying to ponder:
- a nation is in turmoil, a significant part of the population clearly not supporting its leadership
- this is (eventually) responded to by heavy violence
- finally, the country's leader flees, military stands down, and the parliament institutes reforms
So far, so Arab-springy.
Then:
- a big neighbor is upset, speaks the language of war and invades the country, occupying a strategic area.
- The big neighbor's leader speaks of an unconstitutional change of leadership.
- The big neighbor's parliament more or less agreed to war when their leader deems it necessary there.
Now it's starting to remind me of Poland in 1939.
One of the most frustrating things about this - for an EU citizen like me, at least - is the response of EU leaders.
- Yesterday: "It's not yet the time to threaten with economic sanctions."
(while the Russians were invading)
- Today: USA withdraws completely from major military collaboration. The EU... is talking.
Seriously, I don't know what the right thing to do is, and I will accept that diplomacy can sometimes achieve things, but... wow. This is happening to our direct (EU) neighbor! It is happening *because* they want to become a part of the EU family!! Just look at the love we're showering on them in return... Is this seriously the best the EU can do? Because, quite frankly, that's rather pathetic.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by cykros on Tuesday March 04 2014, @05:08PM
Not having any dogs in this fight, I can't say I have a preference one way or another for how it goes. Both Russia and the EU have a history of using censorship in problematic ways, and the EU's response to the crises in its various member states isn't exactly reasurring. Couple that with reports of western backed extreme right wing groups calling for a racially motivated cull or expulsion? I'm not so sure Russia is the bad guy here. Not to say they're blameless, but there doesn't seem to be anyone at this point worth standing behind.
A partition at this point looks like perhaps the cleanest way out of this mess, but I'm sure there'll be a bit of bloodshed before anyone settles on what is a reasonable deal in that regard. And I'm sure it won't be loved by remotely everyone, as people scramble to move their homes, businesses, and lives to the region they are best served by.
(Score: 0) by FakeBeldin on Wednesday March 05 2014, @01:11PM
Well, yeah. :(
I would describe the scenario you sketch as "another Yugoslavia breakup".
Worryingly enough, that is far from the worst scenario possible here... as you said, it might be even one of the better ones