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Russian Officials Consider Ban On Wi-Fi Use For Kids

Posted by timothy on from the you-can-still-be-young-at-heart dept.

dsinc writes that Russia's "Communications and Press Ministry has proposed banning children from using Wi-Fi networks in public, potentially making cafes, restaurants and other locations providing the service responsible for enforcing the law. An official with the ministry's Federal Mass Media Inspection Service, known as Roskomnadzor, said the ban should apply to people under 18 years old. Locations providing Wi-Fi access would be held legally responsible for implementing the rule, and failing to meet the proposed measure would result in a fine ranging from 20,000 rubles to 50,000 rubles ($640 to $1,600), Vedomosti reported Thursday." The law, ostensibly to "shield" children, would apply to a fairly broad definition of child — anyone under 18.

8 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. What's the fear? by BobPaul · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Is he afraid of kids getting access to porn or is he afraid of kids becoming politically active and starting a "Russian Spring" or sorts?

    1. Re:What's the fear? by jandrese · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Why can't it be both? You have your moral hysteria to appeal to the social conservatives, and the totalitarianism to appeal to the ranking government officials, it's a win-win.

      I expect this law to be enforced in current Russian fashion: not at all unless it is to harass your political or social rivals.

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      I read the internet for the articles.
    2. Re:What's the fear? by Hatta · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There doesn't have to be an actual risk to children. You just have to declare that you're doing something to protect children, and accompany it with a suitably jingoistic propaganda campaign. This is how "The Land of The Free"(TM), has managed over 75 years of cannabis prohibition, despite it being one of the safest drugs on Earth. A war on wifi would be no more absurd or unjust.

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      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  2. How exactly? by Hentes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How in hell do you tell the age of someone connecting to your network?

  3. In Soviet Russia... by melikamp · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is being proposed in a country where minors can buy alcohol virtually anywhere.

    1. Re:In Soviet Russia... by Mike+Buddha · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Alcohol in is counter-revolutionary. Internet access is just the opposite.

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      by Mike Buddha -- Someday the mountain might get him, but the law never will.
  4. Better control that free thinking. by Picass0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Pissing off the youth is always a good idea for a career politician. They never remember stuff like this when they are old enough to vote.

  5. An excellent way of enforcing control by fluor2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    To be sure that one does not offer Wi-Fi for kids, the only solution is to require authentication with a real name or similar. Else, the government can arrest you because you cannot prove that a kid did not use your network.

    A very smart move to hide the real reason; more control.