Russia’s Bold Move: A Quick “Internet Timeout” to Tighten Control
Russia’s government is planning a brief, nationwide “offline” experiment that could look a lot like a mass‑censoring take‑away. Think of it as a digital speed‑bump, designed to test how the country can keep the web running when all the big‑name DNS servers (those that translate domain names into IP addresses) are pulled out of the country.
What the Draft Law Says
- ISPs Must Keep the Lights On — Even if all foreign DNS are cut off, internet service providers are required to keep the service humming.
- Home‑grown DNS Backup — Russia’s own DNS system already holds a copy of the core address book from the international root servers, so a sudden disconnect may feel like nothing happened.
- Redirection to “Routed Points” — ISPs must prove they can steer traffic to government‑approved routing points.
- Blocky Overseas Traffic — These designated points will act like a bouncer, refusing to let any traffic that should exit the country slip through.
- Mass Censorship Blueprint — According to BBC’s read, the move is a test run for a system that would restrict foreign data flows and jail all traffic within Russian borders.
Who Runs the DNS Roots? Who’s Not
Looking at the IANA list, 13 organisations run the DNS root servers. None of them is owned or run by Russia. It’s like having a football team but the ball is owned by foreign clubs.
Shielding the Russian Net?
By cutting off from the outside world, the plan is to create a “deep moat” around RusNet and all Russian computer networks. The idea: make it nearly impossible for external cyber‑attacks to slip in.
When Is This Going to Happen?
The BBC says the experiment is slated for before 1 April 2019, but the exact date remains a mystery, like a well‑planned surprise party with no RSVP.
Bottom Line
With a temporary “offline” test, Russia is testing a new rulebook for digital sovereignty that could turn the internet into a tight, highly controlled zone. Stay tuned—this could become the next chapter in the global debate over why governments should—or shouldn’t—try to run their own internet.
