The Problem of the «Sovereign Internet» in Russia

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of sovereignty of the Russian segment of the global Internet. The hypothesis of the study is that the Russian government intends to take control of the dissemination of information via the Internet, but this intention runs counter to the economic interests and objectives of the modernization of the country based on modern technologies. In this regard, the actions of the Russian authorities in this area are contradictory and half-hearted. Attempts to control the information space, social networks and video blogs are increasingly on the agenda in many states. At the dawn of its existence, the Russian segment of the Internet was practically free from censorship and from any interference from the state in general. Each user was free to express his personal opinion without fear of censorship. It should be recognized that complete freedom has not always been for the good. There were websites on the Runet that freely spread neo-Nazi, chauvinistic, xenophobic views. As the confl with the West deepened, the idea of protecting the Runet from hostile ideological infl following the example of China, was increasingly discussed in Russian government circles. Currently, the Runet, despite increased censorship, is still an integral part of the Internet. The fi part of the article is devoted to the analysis and comparison of the degree of control of social networks in diff countries and come to logical conclusions.

Keywords

• information society
• social networks
• internet blocking
• electronic democracy
• cybersecurity