Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed an interest in vamping up surveillance of “some companies” Monday, according to Reuters, particularly in anticipation for the country’s presidential election next year.
“We need to look carefully at how some companies work in internet, in social media, and how widely they are involved in our domestic political life,” Putin reportedly said while speaking with leaders in Russia’s parliament about a new “foreign agents” law.
Which companies, whether domestic or foreign, were not specified, however.
The statement and consideration of increasing monitoring comes after months of clamoring from some U.S. public officials and portions of the American electorate that Russia significantly influenced the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. While it appears certain Russian actors, which may or may not have ties to the Kremlin, tried to intervene in the process through some disinformation campaigns on social media, how much of an effect it ultimately had is dubious. (RELATED: Former Hillary Clinton Strategist Refutes Claims That Russia’s $100,000 Had Huge Impact On Election)
Putin’s statements, though, could stoke fears of further Russian influence in companies, perhaps American-based, that are supposed to be outside the purview of foreign government. And it seems Putin is, at least ostensibly, worried about the same thing Americans have been concerned with. Somewhat ironically, Putin is mainly to blame for some of the consternation in the U.S.
The Russian leader, who is up for re-election in March of 2018, helped pass a law last month that gave authorities the power to label foreign media outlets as “foreign agents.” Russia would investigate said firms after classification, including their source of funding, according to Reuters.
Putin, though, said such actions should not “narrow the space” for internet freedom.
Putin signed a law over the summer forbidding technology known as virtual private networks, which help users get around blocks on censored web content.
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