Russia's security service tells internet firms to hand over user data: The Bell

[snoop1130]

Russia's security service tells internet firms to hand over user data: The Bell

 

FILE PHOTO: Cars drive past the headquarters (C) of the Federal Security Service in central Moscow, May 14, 2013. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has ordered some of the country’s major internet companies to give it continuous access to their systems, The Bell investigative website reported late on Tuesday, citing three sources at the firms.

 

It said the measure would affect a string of Russian internet services that have been added to a list of entities obliged to hand over user data and messages to Russian law enforcement agencies on request.

 

The list, drawn up by Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, contains more than 200 entities such as popular messenger service Telegram, some Yandex services, social network VK and classified advertisement website Avito.ru.

 

Reuters was unable to immediately confirm the report.

 

The Bell said the orders, which the companies received last year, demanded they install equipment allowing FSB employees to have continuous access to their information systems and the keys to decode users’ communications.

 

Companies that fail to comply can be blocked.

 

Russia’s increased regulation of the internet has drawn criticism from some opposition politicians and sparked protests by activists who are concerned about what they say is the state’s growing presence in the online world.

 

Russia has in the past attempted to block access to the Telegram messenger service after it refused to give state security access to users’ secret messages.

 

The authorities have also started to focus their attention on foreign services as well, including dating app Tinder.

 

Tinder said last year that it had agreed to be added to Roskomnadzor’s register but had not divulged users’ personal information. The Bell did not say whether Tinder had been ordered by the FSB to hand over users’ data and communications.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-12

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[Credo]

Well, Edward Snowden will now have full-time employment again.

 

[DoctorG]

Those in the west who advocate for larger government should take note.

[Emdog]

With Russia taking the lead, can the USA be far behind?

[ardsong]

Russians are just copying the Western , so called Free World.

[Srikcir]

Give it a week and Putin admirer and confidant POTUS Trump will make the same demand.

[heybruce]

10 hours ago, Credo said:

Well, Edward Snowden will now have full-time employment again.

 

Edward Snowden is a hero (to some) for revealing that the US was secretly collecting metadata; the who, when and what numbers of phone calls.  He is now under the protection of a country demanding "continuous access" to all internet data.  Presumably this will allow the Russian security services to see everything anyone is doing on the internet.

 

Does anyone else see the irony here?

[heybruce]

34 minutes ago, ardsong said:

Russians are just copying the Western , so called Free World.

No, Russia is way ahead of the free world on this one.

[metempsychotic]

10 hours ago, Credo said:

Well, Edward Snowden will now have full-time employment again.

 

How does one blow thw whistle when the information is already public?

 

Think about it.

[KKr]

41 minutes ago, heybruce said:

No, Russia is way ahead of the free world on this one.

about 22 years ago, internet providers in Moscow (and in Russia) were ordered to give access to their systems or close down.
So what is the News? 

Enforcement of the rules, maybe,
or just a push to close some companies down and snap up some lucrative businesses franchises on the cheap ?

[SunsetT]

Democracy Putin style! Welcome back to the KGB!

[mlmcleod]

BIG BROTHER is alive and well in Russia!

[redpill17]

4 hours ago, ardsong said:

Russians are just copying the Western , so called Free World.

People in the West are not locked in jail for reposting memes or throwing paper cups at police (yet). Putin is trying to copy China.

[samran]

3 hours ago, KKr said:

about 22 years ago, internet providers in Moscow (and in Russia) were ordered to give access to their systems or close down.
So what is the News? 

Enforcement of the rules, maybe,
or just a push to close some companies down and snap up some lucrative businesses franchises on the cheap ?

I was there a few weeks ago. The rules are pretty strict - if using public wifi you’d normally have to give passport details.

 

When travelling by intercity train, to use the public wifi they wanted your passport number and seat number and the PP number had to match the details you have when you booked your train ticket. 
 

Big brother indeed. 

[zydeco]

6 hours ago, ardsong said:

Russians are just copying the Western , so called Free World.

No, just copying Stalin. New Russia same as the old Russia.

[jany123]

7 hours ago, redpill17 said:

People in the West are not locked in jail for reposting memes or throwing paper cups at police (yet). Putin is trying to copy China.

Perhaps not locked in jail, but I did get a (temporary) ban from a certain online Thai forum for reposting memes.... that was bad enough

[tgw]

2 hours ago, jany123 said:

Perhaps not locked in jail, but I did get a (temporary) ban from a certain online Thai forum for reposting memes.... that was bad enough

heh, you can even get banned for using the wrong emoticon on some posts...

[heybruce]

5 hours ago, jany123 said:

Perhaps not locked in jail, but I did get a (temporary) ban from a certain online Thai forum for reposting memes.... that was bad enough

That's not the same as being locked up for airing legitimate grievances against your government, is it?

 

BTW, I've been temporarily suspended for posting legitimate opinions about coups and military rule (I tried to barely stay within the rules, but sometimes....).  I didn't like it, but understand that a forum that exists in a country with censorship has to be careful.