Putin says he’s “not even considering” curbing Internet access

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he would not restrict Internet access for Russians but Moscow must protect state domains against a surge of cyber attacks since the Ukraine crisis began. His remarks were intended to douse speculation that he plans a crackdown on use of the Internet, which he has called a “CIA project” used to organise protests against him, as tensions mount with the West over the Ukraine crisis.

“We do not intend to limit access to the Internet, to put it under total control, to nationalise the Internet,” Putin told a meeting of his advisory Security Council, which groups top state, defence and security officials.