TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Directory
  • Smart Studio
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • DSP Leaders
  • Great Telco Debate
    • |
    • Follow
    • |
    • Subscribe
  • |
  • More
  • Webcasts
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • Great Telco Debate
  • |
  • Follow TelecomTV
  • |
    • Subscribe
    • |
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Follow TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

Security

Security

Kremlin clamps down on unidentifiable public WiFi use

Aug 11, 2014

via Flickr © Panoramas (CC BY-ND 2.0)

via Flickr © Panoramas (CC BY-ND 2.0)

The Russian government is also using the Summer months to announce some Internet clamping-down (see Chinese Government plays Wac-a-Mole to squash online dissent)
http://www.telecomtv.com/articles/policy-and-regulation/chinese-government-plays-wac-a-mole-to-squash-online-dissent-11621/

It’s just announced that from now on those using public WiFi hotspots will have to provide personal identification  to get online and ISPs will be responsible for ensuring they know who is on their networks. 

As things stand the new regulation is in the form of a  ‘decree’ issued by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Russian telcos and ISPs are declaring themselves uncertain as to how it’s all going to work and are wondering whether they’re going to be in the firing line if it can’t. 

As in China, the new Russian edict is part of a flurry of actvity in this area and is being interpreted a component in a concerted campaign to crack down (or at least be ready to crack down) on internal dissent.  This may be necessary if Russia enters a dangerous and potentially unstable period as specific consumer goods and food-stuffs become more expensive or impossible to get hold of if sanctions over Ukraine are ramped up by the US and Europe. 

The Websites of two Putin critics have been blocked this year and the great man himself has been preparing the ground for further action by characterising the Internet (that’s all of it, not just the NSA activities) as a “CIA project” which will require new laws to bring it back under control to fight the extremism and terrorism that’s being fermented on it. 

Given that the Internet is also widely recognised in the West as being an enabler and recruiting sergent for Jihadi activities, it’s hardly surprising that Putin can pick up on this to justify his own internal crack-down. Then there’s the huge own-goal of the NSA/GCHQ surveillance activities and the asylum granted Edward Snowden in the USSR.  It’s a gift that just keeps on giving as far as Putin is concerned.

The Russian communications minister, Nikolai Nikiforov, is justifying the ID move as normal, tweeting, says Reuters, that  "Identification of users (via bank cards, cell phone numbers, etc.) with access to public Wifi is a worldwide practice."  

In fact the implication of the new law is far from clear: only that users of ‘public’ WiFi as offered in post offices, cafes parks and so on, would be under “an obligation” and that potential users would have to proffer full names and an ID before being able to use WiFi. That information would be kept for at least 6 months.  

An identity could also be confirmed by registering a telephone number and getting a login via the SMS. It sounds very much like Russian government agencies are already actively engaged in tracking and monitoring communications and that public WiFi, which could be anonymously used, was the weak spot.  By getting telephone number ID, the security services will be able to cross-match any WiFi communications to existing ‘targets’. 

I’d always just assumed that they were doing this anyway.

Related Topics
  • Analysis & Opinion,
  • Europe,
  • Net Neutrality,
  • News,
  • Policy & Regulation,
  • Security,
  • Wi-Fi

More Like This

AI, Analytics & Automation

Plume banks $270 million to accelerate growth, joins Unicorn club

Feb 23, 2021

Security

Palo Alto Networks announces intent to acquire Bridgecrew

Feb 16, 2021

AI, Analytics & Automation

What’s up with… Verizon, Dish Network, CETIN, Telenor Myanmar

Feb 16, 2021

Security

Colt harnesses ADVA FSP 3000 for quantum-secured transport in live network trial

Feb 16, 2021

Security

The Quad Tech Network aims to ensure that the Digital Indo-Pacific is "free, open and trusted"

Feb 9, 2021

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

On-demand Workshop: How to build your cloud native 5G core platform

16:48

The case for mmWave in 5G networks

25:55

The Private Mobility Opportunity for Enterprises

12:04

VMware learnings from DISH 5G rollout

  • TelecomTV
  • Decisive Media

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media

Menu
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Directory
  • Smart Studio
 
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • Events
  • About Us
Our Brands
  • TelecomTV Tracker
  • TelecomTV Perspectives
  • DSP Leaders
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • The Great Telco Debate
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070

Request a Media Pack

Follow
  • © Decisive Media Limited 2021. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Legal Notices