Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Analysis: Russian Internet attacks stifle political dissent
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (0)
Technology
Motorola and Huawei settle trade secret dispute
Foxconn says looking at opportunities in Brazil
TV airwaves needed to counter wireless crunch: FCC
Russian Internet attacks stifle political dissent
All eyes on new CEO as Google reports results
"Rick-Rolling" Oregon lawmakers a hit on YouTube
Students use cameras, YouTube to reveal Misrata siege
Poll: After Cisco’s Flip, what’s next for the smartphone serial killers?
Follow Reuters
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
YouTube
Read
TEPCO still working on plan to end Japan nuclear crisis
9:45am EDT
Atop new poll, Trump slams China, OPEC and Obama
12 Apr 2011
JPMorgan Q1 profit up 67 percent; can it be repeated?
11:37am EDT
TEPCO still working on plan to end Japan nuclear crisis
|
9:17am EDT
Obama deficit plan to seek tax reform, spending cuts
11:32am EDT
Discussed
145
China tells U.S. to quit as human rights judge
140
Reid says Republicans want shutdown to close clinics
116
Obama, Congress struggle to find budget deal
Watched
South Korean "super gun" packs hi-tech killing power
Mon, Feb 14 2011
Argentine models bare it all
Thu, Apr 7 2011
X-47B - the future of autonomous aerial warfare
Fri, Feb 11 2011
SMALL BUSINESS
Do fries go with that app?
Worried about how many calories you are going to consume in a serving of fries? A new iPhone application may help. After taking a picture of the meal with the phone, the app gives a calorie read-out almost instantly Full Article
Caribbean rum maker looks to tap U.S. market
Startup targets online vacation rentals
Analysis: Russian Internet attacks stifle political dissent
Tweet
Share this
By Thomas Grove
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian hacker attacks on the country's biggest blog site and a spy agency's warning to Gmail and Skype have raised fears that authorities are tightening their grip on dissent in a China-like assault on free...
Email
Print
Related News
AOL and Huffington Post sued by unpaid bloggers
Tue, Apr 12 2011
Belarus hunts culprits after deadly metro bomb
Tue, Apr 12 2011
Libyan fighting goes on after peace bid fails
Mon, Apr 11 2011
Winklevoss twins must accept Facebook deal - court
Mon, Apr 11 2011
With no budget deal, government shutdown looms
Fri, Apr 8 2011
Analysis & Opinion
Is India really the world’s fifth most powerful country?
Obama, Trump and the 2012 elections
Related Topics
Technology »
China »
Russia »
Stocks
Revellers stand next to a carnival float with a large papier-mache figure of a gun as Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, with 'freedom of press' written on it, is pictured during the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in Duesseldorf February 23, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Ina Fassbender
By Thomas Grove
MOSCOW |
Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:02am EDT
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian hacker attacks on the country's biggest blog site and a spy agency's warning to Gmail and Skype have raised fears that authorities are tightening their grip on dissent in a China-like assault on free speech.
With an eye on Arab unrest that has toppled two North African leaders and spurred Western military intervention in Libya, Moscow is keen to defuse potential turmoil ahead of a December parliamentary election and a 2012 presidential vote.
In a country where much media is state-run, the Internet is one of the last bastions of free speech. Russian bloggers freely criticize authorities, often scathingly, question high-level corruption and swap information without fear of censorship.
But the price of open dissent on the Internet may be too high ahead of next March's presidential election that could see Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who served as president in 2000-2008, sweep back into Russia's top seat of power.
"People close to the government believe the Internet will be more crucial in the upcoming elections than traditional media," said Andrei Soldatov, head of the think-tank Agentura.ru.
The Internet has played a crucial role in the unrest that has rocked Northern Africa and the Middle East, prompting some governments to shut it down. Similar turmoil is unlikely in Russia, but authorities want to be prepared for the worst.
Last week, nearly five million bloggers -- including President Dmitry Medvedev -- were left in the dark due to a cyber attack that temporarily closed top Russian blogging site Live Journal www.livejournal.ru.
"This is a test drive during a very important year to see if it's possible to close down web sites, in particular social networking sites in case of demonstrations," Soldatov said.
Putin and his protege Medvedev both enjoy approval ratings of nearly 70 percent, but their popularity has eased, partly on perceptions that vast revenues from high oil prices are not reaching the population. They have said they will decide together which of them will stand for election in 2012.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The United States, itself wary of Russian and Chinese cyber attacks, said in its 2010 human rights report that Internet systems route Russian web traffic to the Federal Security Services (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB.
The head of the FSB special communications center, Alexander Andreyechkin, said last week uncontrolled use of Gmail, Hotmail and Skype were "a major threat to national security" and called for access to the encrypted communication providers.
Google had no immediate comment on the likelihood of it sharing access to its Gmail with Russian authorities.
The Web search leader has clashed with China over Internet censorship and last month accused the Chinese government of making it difficult for Gmail users to access the service.
Microsoft, which owns Hotmail, said in an emailed statement: "Account security and privacy is a top priority for Hotmail, and we keep all customers' data private. We work closely with industry leaders and governments worldwide."
1
2
Next
Technology
China
Russia
Tweet this
Share this
Link this
Digg this
Email
Reprints
We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language, all capital letters or appear to be spam, and we review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment on reuters.com.
Add yours using the box above.
Social Stream (What's this?)
© Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Reader Feedback
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Analyst Research
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
FindLaw
Super Lawyers Attorney Rating Service
Reuters on Facebook
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Wednesday, 13 April 2011 Clashes erupt in Darfur as peace talks stall
|
EU awaits strong action from Tunisia on migrants
|
Pakistan-based militant group expanding: U.S. general
|
All eyes on new CEO as Google reports first-quarter results
|
AOL and Huffington Post sued by unpaid bloggers
|
McCain, Kerry introduce contentious privacy bill
|
Apple manufacturer Foxconn considers Brazil plant
|
Canada's Postmedia trims for digital age
|
Intel to open Finnish R&D site as Nokia cuts back
|
VeriFone sees smartphones driving mobile payment wave
|
Bieber, Angry Birds among Webby Awards nominees
|
Scream 4 aims to put film franchise back on track
|
Rapper Nicki Minaj to join Britney Spears on tour
|
John Travolta to depict mob boss John Gotti
|
Lindsey Buckingham gearing up for new album, tour
|
Justin Bieber says besieged by paparazzi in Israel
|
Phil Spector lawyers seek new trial on murder charge
|
Chicago blues musician Lacy Gibson dead at 74
|
Mubarak detained for investigation: Egypt TV
|
Ministers meet amid fears of Libya stalemate
|
Syrian forces arrest 200 in rebellious town: lawyer
|
Workers at stricken Japan nuclear plant make a little progress
|
Rival security forces clash in Yemeni capital
|
Nigeria opposition mulls alliance to beat Jonathan
|
China arrests fourth dissident in Jasmine crackdown
|
Kashmiri militants watch talks but ready to fight
|
TV airwaves needed to counter wireless crunch: FCC
|
Chip sector bellwether ASML to see strong Q1
|
Obamas return to Oprah, as TV chat show winds down
|
Bradley Cooper in talks to star in Crow remake
|
Seal, Santana and Sting to play Montreux jazz fest
|
Playwright Edward Albee to receive MacDowell medal
|
Aerosmith rocker promises debauched memoirs
|
Egypt's Mubarak detained, army win protest respite
|
Turkish PM attacks France for ban on full face veil
|
Ivory Coast's Ouattara promises to restore security
|
Belarus opposition to be quizzed over bomb: Lukashenko
|
Mubarak still in hospital, health unstable: source
|
Nigeria opposition fails to strike election pact
|
Motorola and Huawei settle trade secret dispute
|
Foxconn says looking at investment opportunities in Brazil
|
Analysis: Russian Internet attacks stifle political dissent
|
Students use cameras, YouTube to reveal Misrata siege
|
Rick-Rolling Oregon lawmakers a hit on YouTube
|
Zoom to make 3G phones with Qualcomm chips
|
ASML sees impact of Japan quake on customers
|
Bang & Olufsen pledges core unit turnaround
|
Justin Bieber under siege in Israel
|
Seal, Santana and Sting to play Montreux jazz fest
|
Playwright Edward Albee to receive MacDowell medal
|
Bieber, Angry Birds among Webby Awards nominees
|
Rapper Nicki Minaj to join Britney Spears on tour
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights