Putin Signs Law on Sovereignization of Runet
On May 1, 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law aimed at making the Russian segment of the internet (Runet) more autonomous. Starting in November, government agencies plan to centrally manage Russia’s internet segment, filtering traffic, while internet providers will be required to install devices to “counter threats to stability.”
The federal law, dated May 1, 2019, No. 90-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law ‘On Communications’ and the Federal Law ‘On Information, Information Technologies, and Information Protection’” will take effect on November 1, 2019. According to the document, Roskomnadzor will centrally manage the Russian internet segment, filter traffic, and require providers to install equipment designed to counter threats to network stability.
It is planned that a monitoring and network management center will be established under Roskomnadzor. In extraordinary situations, this center will ensure the availability of communication services within Russia. Additionally, information from government agencies and state enterprises will receive extra protection through encryption.
Public Opinion and Criticism
Most Russian citizens have previously expressed opposition to a sovereign internet. Participants in a roundtable organized by experts from VCIOM and the Analytical Center under the government discussed the potential consequences of developing digital services. The findings showed that 52% of Russians believe the internet in Russia should continue to develop as a network “uniting the whole world,” while 23% think the country needs a sovereign internet.
The bill, introduced by senators Andrey Klishas and Lyudmila Bokova, along with deputy Andrey Lugovoy, immediately drew criticism from the expert community. Critics argue that the law is clearly aimed at censorship and could cause disruptions in the network’s operation. Additionally, its implementation may lead to significant financial costs, despite the authors’ initial claims to the contrary in the financial and economic justification.