Click Here
The internet Putin always wanted
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- The Kremlin is employing internet outages as a strategy to control information and limit civil society, particularly in response to the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine.
- Compared to China's highly controlled digital space, Russia's internet has historically been freer, but this is rapidly changing as Putin seeks to centralize power over the digital landscape.
- Mercenary leaders and opposition figures are using the internet to challenge Kremlin narratives, illustrating the potential power and reach of digital communication in modern conflicts.
- Putin's strategy involves not only immediate censorship but long-term plans to deploy technologies that could further suppress dissent and create a digitally repressive environment.
Summary
Censorship and Control in Russia
The podcast dives into the Kremlin's strategy of internet censorship amid the backdrop of the Victory Day parade in May. Dena Templerest introduces Russian analyst Katarina Stepanenko, who notes that internet outages in Moscow occurred just before a significant military event. These outages were not mere accidents but part of a larger strategy by the Kremlin to control information flow in the digital space, which President Putin had struggled to dominate for two decades.
The Digital Landscape of Authoritarianism
A critical examination of how the internet in Russia differs from that of China is presented, highlighting the Kremlin's late realization of the internet's power. The narrative explores how Putin focused on traditional media control and overlooked the internet's growing influence. The podcast contrasts the tightly controlled internet in China with Russia's once free and open digital environment that allowed for political discourse and dissent.
The Rise of Drones and Internet Manipulation
As the conflict in Ukraine escalated, the Kremlin recognized the need for tighter internet control to combat criticism and dissent. The podcast discusses how the war brought unexpected issues to the forefront, with mercenary leaders like Yevgeny Prigozhin utilizing social media for communication and propaganda, challenging the Kremlin's narrative. This evolution marked a pivotal shift in the climate of information wars, showcasing the challenge posed by digital platforms.
Digital Repression and Future Implications
The podcast wraps up with a discussion on the Kremlin's aggressive measures to consolidate its power through technological means. The government is moving towards creating its own digital ecosystem akin to China's Great Firewall while simultaneously rolling out a new messaging app, MAX. Through these efforts, Putin aims to limit freedoms and reshape Russian society into a more obedient and controlled environment, impacting potential future leaders of the country.
Sponsors
- Recorded Future News - Cyber Daily · If you're looking for a daily guide to cybersecurity news and policy, sign up for the Cyber Daily from Recorded Future News. It serves up the day's most interesting and important cyber stories from our sister publication, The Record, and aggregates all of the big cyber stories you might have missed from news outlets around the world.
- Recorded Future News - The Record · If you're looking for more of the cyber security and intelligence coverage you get on Click Here, then check out our sister publication, The Record, from Recorded Future News. You'll get breaking cyber news from reporters in New York, Washington, London, and Kiev, among others.
Show notes
The Kremlin claims it’s slowing mobile internet to keep Ukrainian drones at bay. But that’s just the cover story. What’s really happening is Vladimir Putin’s long-imagined plan for a walled-off Russian internet — a plan that’s fast becoming a model for strongmen around the world.
Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesFollow this show on AudioBrevity and new episodes get summarized for you. Create a free account