Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is creating new cracks in the world-spanning foundation of the internet.
Russia has also exercised the power of itsSovereign Internet Law, which President Vladimir Putin signed in 2019.
The technologists who invented the internet and created many of its most influential companies have fought fragmentation for years.
Now, however, some restrictions are coming from liberal democracies like the EU.
However well intentioned, every regional change adds new complexity, cost and usage barriers to the internet.
Different countries, different internet rules
As with many industries, governmental restrictions vary around the world.
The moves came after similar though smaller actions had been taken.
Google’s YouTube also reportedlycurtailed Russian state-owned media ad revenueand reduced the likelihood their videos would be recommended.
US sanctionsblocked Apple Pay and Google Payfor some Russian bank customers.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s vice prime minister, wants more.
Internet fragmentation at the deeper level
The internet’s plumbing is key to its global nature.
BGP lets one web connection broadcast the names of the others it’s connected to.
Some people would like to use internet standards to target Russia.
That includessome Ukrainian officialsseeking tocut Russia’s internet connections, Rolling Stone reported.
Remaining neutral means RIPE can be “trusted as authoritative and free from bias or political influence.
Fundamentally, hobbling the internet in any location undermines its value to everyone, everywhere, Sullivan argues.
