Steve Rosenberg: Kremlin's tightening grip on internet fuels public discontent

Steve Rosenberg: Kremlin's tightening grip on internet fuels public discontent9 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSteve RosenbergRussia EditorWatch: How Russia's internet crackdown is affecting its peopleNear the Kremlin several dozen people are queuing outside the presidential administration office.They've come to submit petitions calling on President Vladimir Putin to end a crackdown on the internet.Russian authorities have been tightening control of the country's cyber space. Access to global messaging apps has been restricted and there are widespread disruptions to, even shutdowns of, mobile internet.Petitioning the president is legal. But in an authoritarian state this is putting your head above the parapet.And people are being made to feel that.From across the street security officers are filming the petitioners – and us."Aren't you scared?" I ask Yulia in the queue."Very scared," she replies. "I'm shaking."Putin has acknowledged the disruption, describing it as related to "operational work to prevent terrorist attacks", although he says he has instructed officials to allow for the "uninterrupted operation" of essential internet services.Russians can legally petition the president but sticking your head above the parapet comes with a real riskYulia, who owns a catering company, explains how attempts to censor the internet have affected her business."There were times recently when our website was not accessible. We couldn't generate revenue," she says. "We are losing money every time there is a blocking of the internet, a blocking of [messengers] Telegram and WhatsApp. My business is entirely on the internet. Without internet access, in this form it will not exist."Russian officials insist that curbs on communication are in the interests of public safety. They claim that mobile internet blackouts disorient Ukrainian attack drones, although such a...