By Matt Underwood ‘Blackout’—Putin’s $12 Billion Internet Shutdown Strikes Russia, and the implications are substantial, to say the least. It seems Putin has essentially constructed, and now activated, a sophisticated “kill switch” for the entire country’s internet. This isn’t just a minor tweak; we’re talking about a multi-year project costing a staggering $12 billion. The core function? To allow the Kremlin to shut down or severely restrict Russia’s connectivity at will. The intent appears clear: to control information flow and maintain political power, rather than solely focusing on security or technical necessities. One has to wonder if this will lead to a decrease in malicious online activity originating from Russia, or if those operations will simply be run by the government itself, still with internet access.
The immediate reaction for many seems to be a mix of shock and amusement, especially from those who enjoy online gaming. Thoughts quickly turned to the potential impacts on games like Counter-Strike and Dota, with users pondering how this could change their experiences. There is a sense of something significant has just happened. On the other hand, the more tech-savvy among us are already considering alternative communication methods, like Meshtastic, as a means of staying connected in a disconnected world. The sentiment of foreboding is there, with many fearing similar measures in other parts of the world, specifically in the United States. There is talk of Donald Trump being envious of Putin’s capabilities.
Naturally, there’s a strong political undercurrent here. The move is viewed by many as a desperate attempt by Putin to maintain his grip on power. This is compounded by an underlying sense that Russia is on the brink of significant social upheaval and that the internet shutdown is a strategic measure to prevent the spread of information that could fuel dissent. Comparing the situation to that of Iran, where internet access is heavily controlled, is a recurring theme. The hope is that the action backfires, potentially inciting the very protests Putin is trying to suppress. Some believe Russia will blame the “facist west” for the internet blackout.
The conversation quickly shifted to the potential impact on various online communities and information sources. Questions were raised about the fate of meme distribution for MAGA supporters and the future of social media platforms like Reddit. There’s a tangible feeling that this is a blow to the free flow of information, and the fact that Putin, seemingly, doesn’t personally use the internet adds a layer of irony to the situation. The idea is that the internet has become a necessity akin to basic resources, such as food or water.
The implementation of this “kill switch” also sparked practical curiosity about the current state of internet segmentation. Is it just Russia, China, and North Korea, or are there other nations adopting similar isolationist policies? The question of whether the bots and troll accounts will disappear, and to what extent, is another point that is coming up repeatedly. The assumption is that this will be a temporary reduction in malicious online activity.
The cost of this operation also seemed to raise a few eyebrows. Some found it ironic that the project cost $12 billion. Others suggested that a janitor could have done it for far less. Overall, there’s a strong sentiment that this move is a step backward, a desperate measure to control the populace and that it reveals the vulnerability of a society that relies heavily on the internet. Finally, the question of whether Elon Musk and Starlink will comply with any shutdown orders is mentioned.