Russia: no plan for internet control

The Russian authorities have no plans to introduce a tougher Internet control, Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Igor Shchyogolev said as he opened the 2nd all-Russia Internet forum on Thursday. "We're supporting free development of the Internet, for the access to this serious instrument and do not intend to introduce a tough, total, police control over the functioning of the Internet in Russia, "ITAR-TASS" quoted him as saying. Any national regulation could only be possible after "the model of interaction and regulation takes shape worldwide," he added. In his opinion, "one cannot regulate the whole thing at the present stage." "We maintain the most careful attitude to this theme," the minister underlined, "the government's key role at the present stage is to create a technology development vector and legal groundwork for the Internet.