According to the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, as a result of the reform being prepared by the Russian Ministry of Digital Affairs, up to 30% of Internet providers in the country may close.
According to the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, as a result of the reform being prepared by the Russian Ministry of Digital Affairs, up to 30% of Internet providers in the country may close.
Small local providers are at particular risk, according to the CPS.
«Russia is taking another step towards centralizing the Internet, clearing the market of independent operators,» the Central Data Protection Agency stated.
According to available information, the Russian authorities intend to introduce strict requirements for providers, which many of them will find unrealistic to fulfill. In particular, the plans provide for only three types of licenses, and Internet companies will be required to maintain high financial indicators. In addition, they will be obliged to introduce a connection to the special services' surveillance system (SORM).
«If a small provider loses its license or closes, its networks and customer base will be automatically redistributed. Small operators will be required to sign agreements that give large federal players a priority right to buy out their assets,» the CPD says.
Thus, according to Ukrainian analysts, such a «reform» will actually concentrate the entire market in the hands of a few loyal monopolists.
«Since a centralized Internet system is easier to control, Russian special services will be able to censor content much faster, block „unwanted“ resources, and completely monitor users,» the Center for Countering Disinformation concludes.
As previously reported by dev.ua, Russia also wants to create its own «sovereign» artificial intelligence, which should work on Russian infrastructure and correspond to «traditional spiritual and moral values.»
