Russia internet: Law introducing new controls comes into force

A law introducing new controls on the internet has come into
force in Russia amid concerns it may be used by the government to
silence its critics.

In theory, the “sovereign internet” law gives officials
wide-ranging powers to restrict traffic on the Russian web.

The Kremlin has said the law will improve cybersecurity . A
spokesman said users would not notice any change.

Critics fear the Kremlin will try to create an internet firewall
similar to that in China.

Experts say it is unclear how the powers of the controversial
law might be used, or how effectively, they can be implemented
given the technical challenges and high costs.

What’s the law about?

It gives the Kremlin the possibility to switch off connections
within Russia or completely to the worldwide web “in an emergency”.
It is up to the government to decide what constitutes a threat and
what actions should be taken.

The law requires internet service providers to install network
equipment – known as deep package inspection (DPI) – capable of
identifying the source of traffic and filter content. In practice,
this will allow the country’s telecommunications watchdog
Roskomnadzor to be more effective at blocking sites.

Russia is seeking to route the country’s web traffic and data
through state-controlled points, reducing reliance on foreign
servers over which it has less control. Supporters say this is to
protect the system from attacks from abroad.

To help with this project, the country is working on developing
its net address books so it can operate almost autonomously,
although this work will not take effect until 2021.

US intelligence has said Russia used the internet to interfere
in the US 2016 presidential election, an allegation Moscow
denies.

This is the latest in a swathe of tougher internet laws approved
by Russia. Earlier this year, parliament passed two bills outlawing
“disrespect” of authorities and the spread of what the government
deemed to be “fake news”.

Is it what they say it is?

Analysis by Sarah Rainsford

All the official talk is about how this law will ensure Russia
keeps functioning if the West “attacks” and cuts the country off
from the internet. That is why it is dubbed the “sovereign
internet” bill: to underline how Russia can survive in isolation –
even thrive, as it claims it has under Western sanctions.

All the chatter, though, is that the law aims to increase
control over the internet here inside Russia. The DPI technology
being tested allows the state regulator to filter traffic and block
what it wants. The criteria for such censorship is usefully
vague.

The hugely popular messaging app Telegram will likely be an
early target. The regulator’s last attempt to block it using IP
addresses was a flop as hundreds of other sites and service were
knocked offline instead.

If the filtering technology is installed nationwide, IT experts
are sure all users will feel it. One compared the attempt to
squeeze all internet traffic through the DPI “black boxes” to the
crush of passengers trying to get on the Moscow metro at rush
hour.

Why are there concerns?

Campaigners say the law, which was signed by President Vladimir
Putin earlier this year, is an attempt to increase censorship,
building on the internet legislation that already curtails freedom
of expression and privacy.

“Now the government can directly censor content or even turn
Russia’s internet into a closed system without telling the public
what they are doing or why,” said Rachel Denber, Human Rights
Watch’s deputy Europe and Central Asia director.

The law, observers say, allows the government to block content
without judicial consent and leaves users unaware about what
information is being blocked and why.

Christian Mihr, from the group Reporters Without Borders, said:
“[The law] proves that the Russian leadership is ready to bring the
entire network infrastructure under political control to cut off
the digital information flow whenever needed.”

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the government had no
plans to isolate internet users: “No-one is suggesting cutting the
internet.”

In March, thousands of people protested in Moscow against the
law.

Source: www.bbc.com/news/world-europe

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