Russia prepares UN ban on anti-govt propaganda on Internet

Updated: 2011-09-23 22:32

(Xinhua)

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MOSCOW - Russia wants the UN to ban the use of the Internet for spreading anti-government propaganda and for military purposes, Moscow's Kommersant business daily reported Friday.

It has drafted an 18-page convention titled "About providing international information security", which it aims to table at the United Nations in 2012, the newspaper said.

Russia also proposes governments keep full control over their national segments in the worldwide web "according to the national laws" and suggests governments obtain a right to restrict activities on the Internet "to protect national and public security."

The draft document envisages a worldwide ban on using information technologies in some activities, including "hostile actions and aggression, undermining political, economic and social systems of another state, manipulation of information streams with the purpose of distorting the psychological and spiritual environment of a society or destabilizing a society and state."

Moscow insists such action should be defined as crimes against international peace and security.

Local experts said Moscow was worried about a cyber war because Russia lagged behind many countries in this area. They also believed the Kremlin was concerned about the possible use of the Internet and mobile phones as tools for mass mobilization and coordination of anti-government actions.