All news

Internet should not remain unregulated — Medvedev

Russian Prime Minister said internet “is a useful but very contradictory sphere of human activity”

MOSCOW, September 08, /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said internet should not remain an unregulated communicative environment.

In an interview with the Vedomosti business daily, Medvedev said internet “is a useful but very contradictory sphere of human activity.”

“It can’t be strangled but we should know what is happening there. There’s everything there - from educational programs and blogs to garbage and criminal activity banned in any country,” the premier said.

Medvedev recalled that Russia recently introduced a number of restrictions on distribution of materials connected with suicides, pedophilia, drug addiction and with the stirring up of ethnic strife. “This is bringing its positive result,” he said.

At the same time, the prime minister admitted that the Russian authorities’ attempts to regulate the internet “may be imperfect both in terms of effectiveness and from the viewpoint of procedures."

As an example, he cited developments around the authorities’ move to ban anonymous wireless internet in public places, which has caused a public response.

“No one wanted to oblige everyone to carry passports. Identification is also possible by more modern means - via sms or credit card,” Medvedev said, adding that the step to ban wireless internet was connected with the fact that most terrorism-related crimes are committed with the use of internet and mobile communications.

The resolution to ban anonymous Wi-Fi in public places was signed by Medvedev on August 8. It says users should be identified by communications operators.