Putin on the limitations of the Internet

The President said that the disruptions could be related to the fight against terrorism, but demanded that the damage to the population be minimized

President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with members of the government, said that when introducing restrictions on the Internet, law enforcement agencies must take into account the interests of citizens and find “optimal solutions.”

Restrictions for safety reasons

Commenting on Internet disruptions in major cities, Putin noted that such measures may be related to the prevention of terrorist threats.

“Of course, if this is related to operational work to prevent terrorist attacks - and we know that, unfortunately, we sometimes miss such attacks - ensuring the safety of people will always be a priority,” he said.

According to him, advance information about such measures could harm the intelligence services, since “criminals also hear everything and see everything.” At the same time, according to the president, citizens need to be informed at least after the fact.

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Balance between control and daily life

Putin stressed that law enforcement agencies must “show the necessary ingenuity” and high professionalism, while at the same time taking into account the vital interests of citizens.

He specifically pointed out the need for coordination between security forces and civilian departments so that decisions on restrictions do not cause undue harm to everyday life.

The President also drew attention to the importance of access to the Internet for residents of small settlements, especially in emergency situations, including floods.

Putin called for services to work without the Internet

Addressing the head of the Ministry of Digital Development, Maksut Shadayev, Putin emphasized that during the period of restrictions it is necessary to ensure the uninterrupted operation of vital services, including payment systems.

“Today, as we know, even in mobile phones, if there are no funds in the accounts, emergency calls are available to users. In the case of mobile Internet, work needs to be organized in a similar way,” he noted.

Shortly before the meeting, the Ministry of Digital Development announced the expansion of the so-called “white list” - a list of socially significant online services that remain available even with restrictions. It includes more than 500 Russian platforms, including banking and medical applications.

Problems with the Internet in Moscow and other regions began in March. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov explained the restrictions by the need to ensure security. According to him, such measures will last as long as necessary, and their cancellation is possible after the threats disappear.

Previously, “Layout” talked about how the Internet in Russia came under the control of the Second Service of the FSB . This unit now oversees the blocking of instant messengers, the fight against VPNs and pressure on IT companies.

Photo: Vladimir Putin at the Russian Energy Week in Moscow. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Kremlin via REUTERS

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