Russia claims success in testing its sovereign internet

Moscow: The Russian government claimed that it was successful in testing an exclusive internet service for Russia, severing all the connectivity with the global internet. The government informed that the trials were conducted last week in which state-run agencies, Russian internet service companies as also enterprises providing local internet services participated. The Russian government passed the ‘Sovereign Internet Law’ in May to expedite the independent internal internet system for Russia.

Out of Russia’s population of 140 million, 78% is believed to have access to the internet. Russia leads the list of countries having the highest internet accessibility in proportion to the population. Till 2012, the internet spread was rapid as there were no restrictions on it. However, the Russian government slowly brought controls over the internet accessibility after that and the independent internet is believed to be the next phase of imposing control.

The Russian government has developed an intranet system similar to internet called the Runet. The Russian government had asserted that the Runet system could function just like the internet, even after severing all the connectivity with the global internet. No technical information has been released regarding it but the findings of the tests are said to have been presented to President Vladimir Putin. While passing the law in May, the independent Russian internet was promised to become fully operational by the year 2021.

The successful tests conducted last week, underscores that Russia had taken firm steps in the direction of establishing independent Russian internet and becomes the first country to do so. Nevertheless, NGOs have criticised the independent internet, calling it an effort to impose harsh restrictions on the current internet activity. Russians have even protested the move, but President Putin has chosen to completely snub them.

At the start of the year, Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church had created a sensation, linking the world wide web to the powerful anti-Christ leadership. Furthermore, Patriarch Kirill had warned that ‘Such level of absolute control from one location always comes before the arrival of the Antichrist.’