Russia has formally
adopted a law that gives its government more control over its domestic
internet.
The law means the
systems that exchange data between the networks forming the Russian internet
must share more information with government regulators. It also lets regulators
exert direct control over what Russians can post, see and talk about online
when national security is threatened. Russian net firms have until 1 November
to comply with the law.
Widespread protests
were mounted in a bid to stop the law from being passed.
The legislation is part
of a long-running plan within Russia to rely less on networks outside the
country to help data reach its destination. Instead, Russia wants traffic sent
between its citizens to stay inside its cyber-borders instead of travelling
across international networks, over which it has less control.
To help with this
project, Russia is also working on developing its own net address
books so it can operate almost autonomously, although this work will not
take effect until 2021.Eventually, the Russian government wants all domestic
traffic to pass through routing points over which it has close oversight.
The Putin government
has said the law is needed because of ongoing threats from many nations to
retaliate over Russian meddling in elections and politics.
Analysis published
early in 2019 suggested the law was part of an effort to set up a mass
censorship system similar to that operated in China, which tries to scrub out
chat about controversial subjects.
Russia has also recently passed laws that
ban "disrespect" of the government.Repeat offenders who are blatant
in their criticism of the state, its officials and Russian society could face
up to 15 days in jail.
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