RuNet Echo

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@KevinRothrock @meduza_en @meduzaproject

Yury Dud releases a long interview with the editors of @nexta_tv, the Telegram channel which has played an important role informing the world about protests in Belarus. Dud is one of the RuNet's most prominent figures today, with millions of followers. youtube.com/watch?v=jrOxsjde…

The ban on Telegram was widely flouted (including by state officials) and technically unenforceable. The RuNet is gloating at a rare triumph. "Telegram blocked, Telegram unblocked," reads this meme from the Dekabristen FB group.

In early April, spreading "fake news" was made a criminal offence. This report from @PZhurnalist, Russia's Media Workers' Union, details the worrying legal precedent set by Moscow's crackdown on freedom of expression during the #COVID19 pandemic. profjur.org/covid1984

"Nobody's making noise in the library." For Russia's service workers, the daily irritations of their jobs become a bittersweet reminder of life before #COVID19. Employees of zoos, museums, theatres, cinemas, schools, and shops share what they miss, joining the #скучающийфлешмоб:

Last November, Russian digital giant Yandex acquiesced to government demands and restructured its management, giving veto power to a new foundation. Its head has been announced as Elena Shmeleva, former head of Putin's pre-electoral campaign. youtube.com/watch?v=R9_9V6zJ…

Thanks to the @dgapev for a thought-provoking discussion in Berlin this evening on Russia's "Sovereign Internet." Here are a few observations, selected by our editor @MaximEdwards.👨‍💻

A RuNet #dollypartonchallenge Linkedin: Blocked in Russia in 2016 Facebook: Faces multi-million fines in Russia VKontakte: Gives out user data without official requests Tinder: Prepared to share user data with the FSB (by Центр цифровых прав)

A happy new year, in style, to all our readers and colleagues! С новым годом! youtube.com/watch?v=8PzPHKGp…