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Putin’s new digital development envoy assures Russia not planning to restrict Internet

The Digital Economy is part of the nation’s priority program
Russian Special Presidential Representative for Digital Development Dmitry Peskov  Sergei Fadeichev/TASS
Russian Special Presidential Representative for Digital Development Dmitry Peskov
© Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

MOSCOW, July 10. /TASS/. There are no plans to take any serious prohibitive measures in the sphere of the Internet regulation in Russia in the near future, Russian Special Presidential Representative for Digital Development Dmitry Peskov told TASS on Tuesday.

It emerged earlier in the day that Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Dmitry Peskov from the Agency for Strategic Initiatives as Special Presidential Representative for Digital and Technological Development.

"As far as I know, Russia did not take any major prohibitive moves and won’t take any in the near future," he said.

That said, Peskov noted that draft laws "which do not contain any prohibitive aspects" were drawn up as part of the Digital Economy program. "They are aimed at creating opportunities for markets and companies, and prospects for the rapid development and quick access to markets and consumers. This is the rationale for data regulation laws, the reason for biometric identification systems, the logic behind the legalization of the so-called digital currencies - this is the reason for creating opportunities," he said.

The Digital Economy is part of the nation’s priority program, and the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, led by Konstantin Noskov, is monitoring its implementation. Following the cabinet reshuffling in May 2018, a separate deputy prime minister position in charge of the digitalization of economy and communication issues was also created.