Russian official’s threat to ban Twitter spurs fast backlash.

[dipsydoodle]

MOSCOW — Comments by a top telecom official suggesting that Russia might soon block access to Twitter were swiftly condemned Friday — even by other government officials — providing a rare window into differences of opinion inside the Kremlin over how best to censor voices of dissent.

In an interview with a local newspaper, Maxim Ksenzov, deputy head of the government’s
telecommunications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, called Twitter a “political” tool that undermines the state’s authority. “We can block Twitter or Facebook tomorrow for several minutes,” Ksenzov said. “We do not see any risks in that.”

Ksenzov said the government would then weigh “the consequences from switching off the social networks” against “the damage that is being done to Russian society” by online posts to determine whether to permanently block the sites.

This month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that requires popular bloggers to register their sites with the government, expanding a creeping stranglehold on freedom of expression. The law takes effect Aug. 1.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-telecoms-watchdog-warns-of-possible-twitter-ban/2014/05/16/a8c8bf98-77db-4bbb-8efe-d25a75de84ad_story.html

[randome]

1. Unfortunately, the backlash was on Twitter, which was banned.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]The truth doesn’t always set you free.
Sometimes it builds a bigger cage around the one you’re already in.[/center][/font][hr]

[davidpdx]

4. Yep

I'm sure that helps ordinary Russians who want to keep in touch with family when they start blocking websites. It makes you go hmmm.

[malaise]

2. Foolish idea

Truth will out

[Bluenorthwest]

3. No surprise there.

nt

[GeorgeGist]

5. Soulmates ...

[msanthrope]

6. I await the Snowden/Greenwald tweets on this. nt