internet-censorship

Chapter 3 of "The New Digital Age" explores the evolving relationship between states and the Internet, emphasizing how states exert control over physical infrastructure to regulate online content and connectivity. It discusses the phenomenon of Internet balkanization, where national filtering and censorship create fragmented, state-specific Internets, illustrated by examples such as China's extensive censorship regime. The chapter highlights the tension between individual empowerment through connectivity and state power as gatekeepers, forecasting that state-driven versions of the Internet will increasingly shape global digital interactions and international relations.

Chapter 3 of 'The New Digital Age' explores how states are adapting to and controlling digital technologies, particularly the internet, to maintain sovereignty and control over information. It examines various national approaches to internet censorship, surveillance, and digital infrastructure development, highlighting examples from countries such as China, Iran, Turkey, South Korea, Malaysia, North Korea, and Chile. The chapter also discusses the economic implications of intellectual property violations and the emerging threat of cyber warfare as a new dimension of state conflict.

Chapter 10 details Russia's evolving approach to Internet control following the Snowden revelations, focusing on the establishment and use of Roskomnadzor's blacklist system to censor websites and social media content. It highlights key figures like Alexander Zharov and Maxim Ksenzov who managed the censorship apparatus, the challenges faced by global platforms like Google, Facebook, and Twitter, and the defensive role played by cybersecurity experts such as Eugene Kaspersky in protecting opposition media from cyberattacks. The chapter underscores the Kremlin's strategic efforts to assert digital sovereignty by forcing foreign platforms to comply with Russian regulations and the growing sophistication of censorship and filtering techniques.

Chapter 13, "The Big Red Button," details the escalation of Russian state control over the internet following the 2014 Ukrainian crisis, including the annexation of Crimea and the suppression of opposition media. The chapter highlights the Kremlin's use of propaganda, legal blacklists, and censorship to silence dissenting voices online, culminating in the blocking of prominent independent news sites and opposition blogs. It also describes the reaction of liberal journalists and activists who convened at the Sakharov Center to discuss resistance strategies amid tightening state repression.

Chapter 10, "The Snowden Affair," details the impact of Edward Snowden's revelations on Russia's digital policies and surveillance practices. It highlights Russia's selective internet blocking, cooperation between social media platforms and Russian censorship bodies, and the state's efforts to assert digital sovereignty in response to global surveillance concerns. The chapter also covers Snowden's asylum in Russia, official responses from Russian authorities, and the broader implications for civil liberties and state control over the internet.