Websites with the .ru domain were only periodically online after Russia invaded Ukraine. US tech companies Oracle and Microsoft stopped selling software in the country. Many Russians can not pay for the private networking apps to resolve government censorship on sites like Facebook after Visa and Mastercard suspended operations. Russia is very dependent on online services. Now it all is falling apart.
Conqueror is three weeks into a test that the Internet has never seen before. The significant economic and global power is almost isolated online after international sanctions cut off many services from abroad. The Russian government strengthened online speech and access within its borders.
How the situation develops is likely to determine the future of the Internet, not just for everyday Russians, but a collective understanding. Experts say Russia may turn to China to buy software and hardware products. Also, Russia may have to quarrel to find enough physical connections for its Internet traffic if neighboring countries or non-Russian companies refuse traffic that runs through terrestrial fiber-optic cables.
The fiber-optic cables and mobile networks that make up the essence of the Internet have been generally apolitical, with a few exceptions. However, the most significant land war in Europe in eight decades challenges this idea. Russia’s war in Ukraine is a solid reason in favor of any response.
Russia and Global Internet
It is worth noting that Ukraine has been lobbying in favor of Russia’s online isolation as one way of putting pressure on President Vladimir Putin to stop its invasion. He even asked ICANN, which manages Internet domains, to close .ru, a request that ICANN says has gone too far.
However, the situation points to a possible future internet divided across national borders. Each government has a customs office for imported internet content. Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, Russia and China have launched a new Internet Protocol that will allow Internet service providers to block any websites or applications. They want to move not to one extensive global network but to a different network where you can more easily track citizens. In the long run, Russia wants to be able to stop accessing the Signal.
Competitive visions of the Internet were reflected in the UN election campaign. One candidate is American, and the other is Russian. At a conference in September, 193 countries will select the next head of the UN Telecommunications Division, the International Telecommunication Union, Which will evaluate the proposed Internet Protocol, which Russia and China support. The Biden administration also strengthens its diplomatic power in the international battle over the Internet. Last year, it announced a new Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, headed by the Ambassador.
Social Media
Isolation for Russia turned out to be quick. Russia’s largest technology company, Yandex, has considered transferring 800 employees to Israel. Two directors resigned. The company also warned that it might not be able to pay its debts. This is a flag of how bold things become. Yandex was the pride of the Russian technical sector. However, now it is destroyed.
It is worth noting that the list of American and European technology companies left Russia is long. Google has stopped advertising sales in the country. Netflix has stopped operating. Amazon stopped shipping. Apple withdrew its products from the Russian online store. Other firms took the same steps.
The significant exceptions were social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. They are fighting the Russian government to remain as vital lines of non-censored information. YouTube, another forum for dissent, remains unblocked; However, the course may also change.
