Russia has all the technical means to ensure the autonomous work of its Internet, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said. However, he added that no one would want to take things to an extreme.
"Technologically, we are ready for this. At the legislative level, all the decisions have been made as well. However, I would like to reiterate: it is not easy, and we would really not want that," he stated.
Medvedev admitted that separating Russia’s Internet is just a backup plan in an extreme case of the country’s disconnection from the global network. "Of course, we have a plan on how to act in this situation. As we all know, the Internet appeared at a certain time, and naturally, the United States of America have the key management rights. So potentially, if something extraordinary happens, if someone loses their head completely, this could happen. Exactly because the keys to this chest are across the ocean," TASS cited him as saying.
The politician reminded of constant talks of disconnecting Russia from the international Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT). "They keep threatening us with that. We were even forced to create our own information transmission system, if it happens suddenly, so that we can exchange electronic messages. The same can potentially happen to the Internet, and then we won’t have access to the main nodes of this network," he explained.
Medvedev noted that the law on the Russian segment of the Internet was approved so that it can be managed autonomously, "as the entire state governance is tied to the Internet right now, a huge amount of social functions is tied to it." "We couldn’t leave it without control. So there is such a law, and, if needed, it will enter into force," he assured.
