This past summer the Russian authorities banned technologies that make it possible to circumvent Internet censorship. The lawmakers, who supported the bill unanimously, argued that Russia’s existing system to block illegal content on the Web was “not effective enough.” Ksenia Idrisova of BBC Monitoring explains what exactly has been banned, how the new legislation works, and what …
The instant messenger Telegram has formally challenged a fine imposed for refusing to obey orders from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to surrender the encryption keys it uses to protect its users’ communications. Telegram was fined by a Moscow district court on October 16. After the ruling takes effect, Roskomnadzor, the Russian telecom and Internet regulator, will have legal grounds to block …
Telegram challenges Russian court decision over ‘Big Brother law’ Read More
The Russian authorities’ position about ICOs and cryptocurrencies, which has been subject to wide uncertainty and contradictory signals so far, should be clarified at last, according to President Putin’s decision to develop a legislative framework by July 1, 2018. Following a meeting on October 10 with Finance minister Anton Siluanov, Bank of Russia Head Elvira …
Putin sets deadline to legalize ICOs and cryptocurrencies in Russia Read More
As the blockchain craze continues in Russia, the government has announced the first project based on this technology – converting the land and property registry of all Moscow property to a blockchain. The pilot blockchain project will run from January to July 2018, focusing on verifying information from the property registry, which is normally run …
Russian government announces first Blockchain project Read More
President Vladimir Putin called for regulation of cryptocurrencies but stopped short of backing a broad ban as a debate rages over how Russia should handle the increasingly popular financial instruments, Bloomberg reported today. “The use of cryptocurrencies bears serious risks,” including money laundering, tax evasion and funding for terrorism, the news agency quoted Putin as saying …
Putin backs cryptocurrency rules and warns of “serious risks” Read More
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) had notified Telegram CEO Pavel Durov that his firm was in violation of the law for not sharing with the authorities the encryption keys it uses to protect its users’ communications. Adopted in 2016, this legislation (dubbed ‘Yarovaya law’ or ‘Big Brother law’) requires messenger apps and other “organizers of information distribution” …
Telegram CEO refuses to comply with FSB demand to access encryption keys Read More
Will Facebook be banned in Russia? This might happen next year, warned Roskomnadzor’s head Alexander Zharov yesterday, should the social network still fail to comply with the local legislation on personal data storage. “The law is mandatory for everyone. Either we will [have it] applied or the company will stop operating in Russia,” the RIA …
On September 18, an article appeared on Medium written by a man named Anton Rozenberg, who identified himself as the former technical director at the Russian social network Vkontakte and a former director of special operations at the instant messenger Telegram. In the text, Rozenberg described his falling out with the Durov brothers, who created both Vkontakte …
A lawsuit in St. Petersburg raises questions about Telegram’s operations in Russia Read More
Following a directive from the Department of Homeland Security last week banning the use of Kaspersky Lab security software in the executive branch, the U.S. Senate has followed suit. On Monday, the Senate passed an amendment against Kaspersky Lab pushed forward by New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. The amendment was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) following a …
US senate votes to oust Kaspersky from federal use Read More
In contrast with China, which has just banned ICOs, the Russian government plans to regulate cryptocurrencies like securities, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told reporters on Friday last week. These statement marks a full reversal from his ministry’s proposal last year to punish people who use digital currencies with up to seven years in jail, notes Bloomberg. Contradictory …
Last week, Russian police arrested three businessmen for illegally trading in 500 million rubles worth of bitcoin, or around $9 million worth of the crypto-currency. The arrest marks the start of the first-ever criminal case against bitcoin sales in Russia, Vedomosti business daily reported on Sept. 1. The Russian government has a balancing act to do: they want to …
Russia opens first criminal case involving bitcoin Read More
A court case in Moscow is wrapping up against three hackers who broke into several reusable transportation card services, including the ‘Troika Card.’ Prosecutors say the defendants caused 2 million rubles ($34,000) in damages by hacking Moscow’s public transportation payment system, illegally adding fare credits to reusable cards, and then selling the cards. A verdict …
Russian justice system closes in on public transportation hackers Read More
