Since 2019, Vladimir Putin has supercharged his plan to separate Russia from the global Internet. The country's sovereign Internet law, which came into force that November, gives officials the power to block access to websites for millions of Russians. The law was used to hit Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with blocks and followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February.
Since then, Russian officials have continuously dripped out new policies and measures to further control the Internet, boosting the state's censorship and surveillance powers. Each small move continues to push Russia toward a more isolated, authoritarian version of the web—restricting the rights of those inside its border and damaging the foundational ideas of an open web.
[...] Lokot says that as more nations look to regulate the Internet and do so with their national security in mind, the Internet itself is put at risk. "When the conversation changes from 'the Internet as a public good' to the 'Internet, and Internet access, as a matter of national security,' the questions change," Lokot says. "We will potentially see some really problematic choices made by states—and not just by authoritarian states, but also by democratic states."
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 27 2022, @05:19PM (3 children)
I appreciate his enthusiasm, but isn't everyone bored of the evil maniac takes over the world story line? I can't get excited about a little man banging pots in his bedroom.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 27 2022, @05:29PM
I think he's aiming for seriousness but failing. In other words, failed seriousness: camp [google.com]. It's all a bit much ain't it?
(Score: 4, Interesting) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday July 27 2022, @06:04PM (1 child)
We would prefer him to fail publicly and stay part of the world than to fail silently inside a new North Korea....
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 27 2022, @06:16PM
C'mon, don't tell me you don't enjoy a little goose-stepping and ridiculous numbers of awards for unimpressed son-in-laws? And gold toilets, trophy wives, get the picture yet?
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 27 2022, @05:49PM (4 children)
Our censorship machine is much more sophisticated, it's damn near invisible and only exists by popular demand. Russians are so ham-fisted!
(Score: 5, Insightful) by c0lo on Wednesday July 27 2022, @06:45PM
When you don't have anything intelligent or witty to say, the community censoring you is an exercise in decency and hygiene, not an attack on freeze peach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 4, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 28 2022, @12:37AM (1 child)
The "censorship machine" hasn't stopped you from posting anonymously.
(Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 28 2022, @03:52AM
It's only semi "anonymously" now
Hey.. whatever.. it only means humans aren't ready for prime time yet
(Score: 2) by crafoo on Thursday July 28 2022, @05:22PM
our greatest technology was developed in the 60s, perfecting the mechanisms to "convince" the population to demand censorship.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by looorg on Wednesday July 27 2022, @06:51PM (2 children)
This seems a bit light on the details and a lot of scary-man-in-the-east-do-more-crazy-stuff-while-riding-bear. Did they buy the system from China or is it built by western companies; sort of who provided the infrastructure -- Huawei or Ericsson or ...
They have all their own cool letter agencies to enforce it and such but they seem a bit light on the hardware. But it's probably not for a lack of a state power apparatus. They also seem a bite short on competency but it might have picked up during the last couple of years. But from the article it's a bit light on the subject, I guess they don't want to name and shame potential sponsors? Yandex and Vkontakte come off more like unwilling pawns and victims in the story.
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday July 27 2022, @07:32PM (1 child)
You forget what passes for "level of service" behind the Iron Curtain. Their information barrier consists of deep packet inspection done on latest technology: a Raspberry Pi model 4. Next year they plan to add a 2nd Pi in parallel to double the throughput.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://news.stanford.edu/2023/02/17/will-russia-ukraine-war-end
(Score: 3, Funny) by Rich on Thursday July 28 2022, @01:25PM
I guess we still have to fear the remains of the KGB, then, if they're actually able to source a Raspi 4.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday July 27 2022, @06:51PM
The "Local Chinese Area Network" and "Local Russian Area Network" - wise not to trust 100% their BGP routers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0