Russia to cut itself off global internet

Russia in a bid to avoid potential cyberattacks from abroad, particularly from the US has moved to cut itself off global internet.

Reports say Russian legislators have given tentative approval to a draft legislation that could isolate the country’s internet.

According to reports, Russia’s new bill proposes creating a centre to “ensure and control the routing of internet traffic” and requires that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) install “technical measures to withstand threats”.

Read also: 34-yr-old hacker who avoided extradition requests return of seized computers

It also mandates regular “drills” to test whether Russia’s internet can function in an isolated mode.

However, critics say the bill shows the authorities’ continued efforts to limit internet freedoms despite the huge public and private cost.

“This is very serious,” said Andrei Soldatov, who co-authored a book on the history of internet surveillance in Russia. “This is a path towards isolating Russia as a whole… from the internet.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now