Russia's Putin Calls the Internet a 'CIA Project'

[ProSense]

Russia's Putin Calls the Internet a 'CIA Project'

MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin has mocked the Internet as a CIA project and pledged to protect Russia’s interests online.

The Kremlin has been anxious to exert greater control over the Internet, which opposition activists — barred from national television — have used to promote their ideas and organize protests.

Russia’s parliament this week passed a law requiring social media websites to keep their servers in Russia and save all information about their users for at least half a year. Also, businessmen close to Putin now control Russia’s leading social media network, VKontakte.

Speaking Thursday at a media forum in St. Petersburg, Putin said that the Internet originally was a “CIA project” and “is still developing as such.”

To resist that influence, Putin said, Russia needs to “fight for its interests” online.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russias-putin-calls-the-internet-a-cia-project/2014/04/24/e84983b0-cbb1-11e3-b81a-6fff56bc591e_story.html

[DetlefK]

1. If the Internet belongs the CIA, why does Russia use it?

[ProSense]

2. Kick! n/t

[Rex]

3. So IOW, dicktator wants to close the internet in Russia, like China.

So he can have even more control over the populace. What a nice guy, protecting his sheep...er...population from that darned Western Influence!