Russian lawmakers pass first draft of Internet-isolation legislation

The State Duma has passed the first reading of legislation co-authored by Senator Andrey Klishas that would allow the federal authorities to take control over the connection points linking Russia to the global Internet. Ostensibly as a defensive measure, lawmakers want to build the technical infrastructure necessary to sustain the Russian segment of the Internet in isolation from the rest of the world.

Deputy Leonid Levin, the chairman of the legislation’s steering committee, said in remarks before Tuesday’s vote that the bill needs certain amendments before lawmakers can consider a second reading. Every political party in the Duma opposed the legislation except for United Russia, which has a super-majority in parliament.