Incoming Russian Prez Is Not as Dumb About the Internet as (Insert Favorite Senator Here)
The NYT blog, The Lede, has an interesting bit on the the incoming Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev. Apparently, not only has he used the Internet, he understands it (!) and can speak intelligently to current online trends. The bar is indeed low.
Most relevant to this space is the fact that the Times notes that Russia maintains a fairly minimalistic regulatory regime over the Internet...for now...
Unlike in China, the Internet in Russia is not censored and is full of online newspapers, magazines and videos that criticize the government. By contrast, the Kremlin controls television, and although independent newspapers and radio stations exist, they have relatively small audiences.
Under President Vladimir V. Putin, the Kremlin has considered measures that would tighten control over the Internet. It is currently drafting a law that would force websites to register with the government. A few bloggers have been prosecuted for remarks that were deemed offensive or extremist. Russian Internet entrepreneurs are hoping that Mr. Medvedev will push back against these efforts.
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