Russia now requires public WiFi hotspot operators to collect user passport data | Hacker News Reader

Russia now requires public WiFi hotspot operators to collect user passport data

lenta.ru

26 pointssologoub13 comments

If we don't build infrastructure where this kind of bottlenecking is infeasible ASAP, we might be fucked for the next few decades. Governments are already figuring out that it's in their best interest to control all methods of communication. If we don't hurry, they might succeed.

There are several ideas in play that skirt this idea, however none have widespread adoption as far as I'm aware https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_mesh_network

Frequency hopping, spread-spectrum technologies have been around for quite a while now and a few have seen adoption in the open market, but again, these are fewer and far in-between most other accepted technologies. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency-hopping_spread_spect...

FHSS doesn't solve the fundamental issue of limited bandwidth. In fact, it makes it worse, since it prevents effective spectrum-sharing.

To solve these problems, our best options now are spacial multiplexing and beamforming, which are improving nicely.

Article is in Russian, but the gist of it is that operators of hotspots are now required to log every person logging in, establish their identity and keep records of their passport number or other documents used for identification.

They are required to maintain these records for at least 6 months.

NOT TRUE. http://lenta.ru/news/2014/08/08/ermolaev/

This only concerns state-funded internet access terminals, like computers in libraries (or, in case of Russia, post offices), not your typical Wi-Fi hotspots.

Wrong. Under this law, every internet provider must be able to provide a list of users using its service. Which automatically rules out any unrestricted public wifi.

Any new law in Russia goes through mandatory interpretation dance in the media, because the wording is often so convoluted.

And regardless of the actual wording, whether this law applies to all public wifi networks, or just some subset of them will be determined by an "explanatory notice" of the agency that will be enforcing the law.

I highly doubt that you will actually need a passport or drivers license on you to access any public wifi. Most likely they'll settle for requiring phone number verification in most cases.

Hey, just like mainland China. I had my passport scanned in an internet cafe in Beijing.

You can use the internet at Starbucks in Shanghai without providing ID.

Also, my I-paid-cash SIM card came with a data plan.

Ah cool. The Starbucks in Shanghai didn't have wifi when I was there. Good to see it changing - slowly.

WiFi is pretty ubiquitous in most coffee shops large and small in Beijing, doesn't require a passport either (although I think technically it is supposed to)

I find it ironic that the country harboring Edward Snowden is implementing this policy.

( To be fair, Snowden's complaint was not that America has a surveillance state, but that the NSA was implementing it covertly. )

Also look up "blogger's law" which forces every popular blogger writing in Russian language (not necessarily in Russia) to register as mass media or be blocked.

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