Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet • Hacker News Board

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#11

Post by madiathomas » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:13 PM UTC

It was the next logical step for Russia after they built their own GPS and their alternative to the World Bank, the BRICS bank. Their biggest enemy has proven that they cannot be trusted and they are the ones who invented the Internet. Anytime they have a disagreement with a nation, they take their ball and go home. Like what they were doing with Huawei. I won't be surprised if China and India are working on the same kind of project.

This world needs an alternative to anything built by the USA. That way superpowers will have to go to the negotiation table on an equal footing. We don't want one bully. We need at least 5 bullies.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#12

Post by DaiPlusPlus » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:29 PM UTC

azangru wrote: post #10

> Details of what the test involved were vague So we don’t know what exactly they tested. Why is this news, let alone an international one? Also, as far as I understand, what the Russians were officially saying was that they were developing fallback systems for the event if, in another bout of sanctions, Russia gets disconnected from the global internet. Which, given their standing with the international community, m…

Power consolidation. The Internet is currently the best way to get access to honest, quality journalism - which is probably the biggest threat to Putin, et cetera.

I believe Putin wants to undo glasnost.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#13

Post by DaiPlusPlus » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:30 PM UTC

vbezhenar wrote: post #6

buboard wrote: post #3

Seeing how the globalnet has become a front for globalized surveillance, disconnected subnets are actually a welcome development.

They are a welcome development for governments who'll be able to execute tighter control. I don't think that they're a welcome development for citizens, even for those who do not really care about politics. Want to play World of Warcraft today like you always did? Too bad, servers are in France. Want to learn some web development? Too bad, MDN is not mirrored.

I’m hoping Elon’s StarLink takes off.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#14

Post by rb808 » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:37 PM UTC

madiathomas wrote: post #11

It was the next logical step for Russia after they built their own GPS and their alternative to the World Bank, the BRICS bank. Their biggest enemy has proven that they cannot be trusted and they are the ones who invented the Internet. Anytime they have a disagreement with a nation, they take their ball and go home. Like what they were doing with Huawei. I won't be surprised if China and India are working on the same…

Of course Russia has had its own version of GPS for decades. Those ICBMs need some way to find their destination. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS

World Bank has never been important to Russia. You're right the US is dominating financial world right now which most of the world hates and its inevitable for something else to compete.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#15

Post by mrtksn » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:38 PM UTC

How much Facebook and other tech giants will be affected by a fragmented internet? Is FB still a $600B company if they are prevalent only in the USA, UK and Canada?

I wonder if this trend of closed borders limited information circulation could lead to the diminishing of companies that depend on the network effect and rise of the companies with hard tech.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#16

Post by throwaway13337 » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

madiathomas wrote: post #11

It was the next logical step for Russia after they built their own GPS and their alternative to the World Bank, the BRICS bank. Their biggest enemy has proven that they cannot be trusted and they are the ones who invented the Internet. Anytime they have a disagreement with a nation, they take their ball and go home. Like what they were doing with Huawei. I won't be surprised if China and India are working on the same…

While I agree to some extent, historically having a hegemony of one super power is good for peace.

Nations are all bullies. To their people and externally. Without them, though, other bullies take their place. Usually, they're worse.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#17

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:41 PM UTC

DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #12

azangru wrote: post #10

> Details of what the test involved were vague So we don’t know what exactly they tested. Why is this news, let alone an international one? Also, as far as I understand, what the Russians were officially saying was that they were developing fallback systems for the event if, in another bout of sanctions, Russia gets disconnected from the global internet. Which, given their standing with the international community, m…

Power consolidation. The Internet is currently the best way to get access to honest, quality journalism - which is probably the biggest threat to Putin, et cetera. I believe Putin wants to undo glasnost .

[deleted]

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#18

Post by ScottFree » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:45 PM UTC

DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #12

azangru wrote: post #10

> Details of what the test involved were vague So we don’t know what exactly they tested. Why is this news, let alone an international one? Also, as far as I understand, what the Russians were officially saying was that they were developing fallback systems for the event if, in another bout of sanctions, Russia gets disconnected from the global internet. Which, given their standing with the international community, m…

Power consolidation. The Internet is currently the best way to get access to honest, quality journalism - which is probably the biggest threat to Putin, et cetera. I believe Putin wants to undo glasnost .

> The Internet is currently the best way to get access to honest, quality journalism

Honest, quality journalism is a fantasy. It never existed. Even Benjamin Franklin used his newspaper to influence elections by slandering his political rivals. Not to mention fake news[0].

[0]: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2017/02/even-ben-frankli...

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#19

Post by ivrrimum » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:50 PM UTC

I think this is more to do with Russian tech sector trying to push their products, instead of Western ones.

Uber - Yandex(russian alternative) etc.

Re: Russia 'successfully tests' its unplugged internet

#20

Post by everdev » Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 4:52 PM UTC

azangru wrote: post #10

> Details of what the test involved were vague So we don’t know what exactly they tested. Why is this news, let alone an international one? Also, as far as I understand, what the Russians were officially saying was that they were developing fallback systems for the event if, in another bout of sanctions, Russia gets disconnected from the global internet. Which, given their standing with the international community, m…

> the journalists present this story as Russia's voluntary step towards isolating itself from the global internet. I am not sure why.

Some potential benefits to Russia:

1. Thwart cyber attacks

2. Control information

3. Halt foreign online payments

There are of course downsides, but I think the original premise was security in the event of war / aggression.