Russia threatens to ban Google

[Denis Rakhmanov]

Quote

A Russian communications official has threatened to block Google in Russia unless it complies with a law banning certain websites. 

Russian news agencies on Wednesday quoted deputy Communications Oversight Agency chief Vitaly Subbotin as saying that authorities may push for amendments that would let them block search engines like Google if they fail to comply with Russian law. 

 

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/russian-official-threatens-to-block-google/articleshow/67059089.cms

 

Russia became obsessed with censoring everything. This spring it tried to block popular messenger Telegram, accidentally banning about 20 million IPs from different service providers including AWS, PSN and many others, but due to built-in proxy telegram survived and became even popular. ( old story: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-telegram-ipaddresses/russia-blocks-google-amazon-ip-addresses-in-bid-to-ban-telegram-idUSKBN1HO1WM or here). Later they unban most of those IP, but oficcially telegram is still in ban(though it works perfectly fine).

 

Now the government tries to force Google to accept Russian rules. Google has been fined 700 000 roubles (10 400$), but they understood that it is too insignificant sum to affect Google's position.

Currently it is impossible due to Russian Laws to ban search engines, so they decided to change the laws, so it could affect Google.

https://www.ft.com/content/cd06a598-f180-11e8-ae55-df4bf40f9d0d

Quote

Russian law requires that search engines remove banned websites from search results as of the beginning of this month. Though some websites began to disappear from Google and its main domestic rival Yandex’ searches before the ban came into effect, others still remain available.

Despite its broad censorship powers, which saw it make LinkedIn unavailable in Russia last year, Roskomnadzor has been unable to enforce many of its own decisions against foreign companies like Google. The agency discussed settling the fine with a senior Google executive in early November.

 

in case someone is interested in Russian source on this topic: https://www.interfax.ru/russia/641915

[Morgan MLGman]

Good, let's see for how long Putin can endure using Bing

[Princess Luna]

Is there a website Russia won't ban? they pretty much target any kind of art/content creation host place.

 

Which is a big shame when you see how many talented digital artists Russia has.

[Denis Rakhmanov]

Just now, Princess Cadence said:

Is there a website Russia won't ban? they pretty much target any kind of art/content creation host place.

Russian "agency to ban everything" even twiited that Tumblr decided to remove porn from website because russia asked them to. Obviously a lie.

 

And they even told today that they started to check if Twitter and Facebook comply with Russian laws. so we might also lose them here.

[Taf the Ghost]

As much as the instinct is to go, "oh, this is horrible!", I can neither blame Russia nor give Google a pass. Google is going to make a censored version for China, thus anyone else can quite clearly point to that as being the "price" for operating in their country. 

 

Also, let's not ignore that Google's Search Function has been getting worse over the years as they try to sell more advertising, along with not being an honest arbiter of searching for information. It's not a question if Google censors, it's just a question of who's rules they censor to.

[Denis Rakhmanov]

7 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

Please add some quotes (in quote boxes).

Will this changes suffice?

[SansVarnic]

1 minute ago, Denis Rakhmanov said:

Will this changes suffice?

It works.

[Dissitesuxba11s]

Is Yandex powered by Google or is it a standalone search engine?

[Trik'Stari]

15 minutes ago, Taf the Ghost said:

As much as the instinct is to go, "oh, this is horrible!", I can neither blame Russia nor give Google a pass. Google is going to make a censored version for China, thus anyone else can quite clearly point to that as being the "price" for operating in their country. 

 

Also, let's not ignore that Google's Search Function has been getting worse over the years as they try to sell more advertising, along with not being an honest arbiter of searching for information. It's not a question if Google censors, it's just a question of who's rules they censor to.

I have to say, I agree completely.

[Denis Rakhmanov]

1 minute ago, Dissitesuxba11s said:

Is Yandex powered by Google or is it a standalone search engine?

Standalone. It is one of biggest russian companies. even has their own selfdriving taxis currently testing in some cities

[TacoSenpai]

Just Duck It!

 

https://start.duckduckgo.com/

 

Duck em all!

[Dissitesuxba11s]

1 minute ago, Denis Rakhmanov said:

Standalone. It is one of biggest russian companies. even has their own selfdriving taxis currently testing in some cities

Not sure how much of a grasp the Russian government has on Yandex but at least the people still have options.

[NelizMastr]

I hereby ban Russia. Take that.

 

Putin means whore in French for a reason.

[Doobeedoo]

Countries banning sites/games really how pathetic can you be. Maybe focus on something actually meaningful. 

[Mooshi]

Then Google counter plays with banning Russia!

[RejZoR]

Yandex will be pleased...

[Misanthrope]

Hey maybe Russia can replace Google with a mammoth sized bit torrent tracker that will totally not have rampant piracy and illegal pornography on it.

[mikat]

LOL I'd like to see them try, see the backlash from the people in russia who actually want to do their jobs 

[voiha]

3 hours ago, Taf the Ghost said:

As much as the instinct is to go, "oh, this is horrible!", I can neither blame Russia nor give Google a pass. Google is going to make a censored version for China, thus anyone else can quite clearly point to that as being the "price" for operating in their country. 

 

Also, let's not ignore that Google's Search Function has been getting worse over the years as they try to sell more advertising, along with not being an honest arbiter of searching for information. It's not a question if Google censors, it's just a question of who's rules they censor to.

Time for a new search engine then

[Brooksie359]

1 minute ago, mikat said:

LOL I'd like to see them try, see the backlash from the people in russia who actually want to do their jobs 

Yeah Russia isn't too concerned about upsetting their citizens. 

[Syntaxvgm]

4 hours ago, Morgan MLGman said:

Good, let's see for how long Putin can endure using Bing

oh as if he's subject to these rules 

[Bouzoo]

4 hours ago, Princess Cadence said:

Is there a website Russia won't ban? they pretty much target any kind of art/content creation host place.

 

Which is a big shame when you see how many talented digital artists Russia has.

As long as they don't touch RuTracker I'm happy. Please Russia don't touch RuTracker.

[Delicieuxz]

On 12/12/2018 at 4:49 AM, Princess Cadence said:

Is there a website Russia won't ban? they pretty much target any kind of art/content creation host place.

 

Which is a big shame when you see how many talented digital artists Russia has.

You make it sound like Russia is similar to China in blocking websites, when the internet in Russia is about as open as it is in Canada and the US.

 

There aren't that many blocked websites in Russia, and the sites that are blocked relate to things like terrorism, child pornography, suicide, etc.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_websites_blocked_in_Russia

 

The threat against Google is again due to access to terrorism-advocating materials, which the Russian government doesn't want to be linked-to.

 

Also, some websites are blocked by Google in the West in the very same manner that Russia is asking Google to do for Russia. For example, Google doesn't give torrent page results for large torrent sites like Pirate Bay.

 

 

There is also Russia's blocking of a website like Telegram because the site wouldn't comply with handing over encryption keys to assist in criminal investigations. While I don't agree that Telegram or any site should have to hand over encryption keys, Russia is not different from some of the West in this regard:

 

 

US, Canada, UK, New Zealand, Australia, threaten to force encryption backdoors, say 'privacy is not absolute

Leaked documents reveal UK government is planning to BAN encryption to get access to your WhatsApp messages

 

And there is also the factor that some of these blocks on US companies are a result of push-back from Russia after the US government banned Russian-made software and companies.

 

 

So, it looks to me like Russia's internet is the same as it is in the West.

[pipnina]

More than 25% of all humans live in distinct dictatorships. Is this alarming to anyone else?

The civilized world should probably not support them...

[Guest]

Good, Google are bent on selling your information, this is good news.