The Russian Ministry of Communications has announced that the country has successfully made a successful connection to RuNet, the Russian alternative to the global Internet network. The test is another step in the plan to completely disconnect Russia from the World Wide Web, which took effect in November following its approval by Vladimir Putin in May this year.
While no further details about the testing, or even about RuNet’s own operation, have been revealed, the Ministry says Russian authorities and telecommunications operators are “ready to respond to possible risks and threats and to ensure the stable functioning of the Internet and Internet. Unified Telecommunications Network ” the russian newspaper Pravda. According to Deputy Minister Alexay Sokolov, the results of the first test will now be presented to Vladimir Putin.
Behind the RuNet project is the “sovereign internet law”, approved later this year. The legislation provides for Russian sites to operate without connection to foreign servers, giving the Russian government the power to “shut down” the country from the World Wide Web for national security reasons. Access to content that would be blocked in the region through a virtual private network (VPN) may also no longer be possible in the country, appoint experts to the BBC.
Similar to the Iranian and Chinese government’s actions regarding its citizens’ access to the web, the Russian project is worrying the experts, as it means even greater control of what the country’s citizens do on the Internet, and hinders their freedom. . However, Russian “technological isolation” plans show no sign of slowing down. In early December, the country also passed a law banning the sale of devices such as smartphones, smart TVs, computers and tablets without pre-installed Russian apps, indicates a statement from the Duma, the Russian parliament.
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