Russia successfully tested its own closed-off domestic version of the internet
Updated 06:16, 15-Feb-2020
CGTN

The Russian government says it tested its own version of the world wide web, and users didn't notice.

The country's Ministry of Communications will present the results to Russian President Putin. 

According to Russian News Agency TASS, President Vladimir Putin signed into law last May a plan to create, "a stable operation of the Russian Internet (Runet) in case it is disconnected from the global infrastructure of the World Wide Web.”

Putin said this is a defensive measure against foreign cybersecurity threats. Some Russian lawmakers call it "Sovereign Runet.”

The new system would give Russia the ability to manage all of its domestic internet traffic. By restricting access to the World Wide Web, it would control digital information flowing in and out of Russia. Email, maps, and apps would all connect to servers inside.

Russia and would work independently of global systems. Putin said this is a defensive measure against foreign cybersecurity threats

Russia already has its own map, social media, and email services, Yandex, VK, and Mail.ru respectively.

Critics warn the move could lead to strict government control of internet users as well as monitoring and tracking of Russian netizens.