Russian government enacts Byzantine WiFi regulations
America’s idiocracy has been outdumbed by a Russian government agency which has proposed one of the most breathtakingly inane policies that I have ever had the misfortune of witnessing: mandatory registration of all WiFi devices.
the government agency responsible for regulating mass media, communications, and cultural protection has stated that users will have to register every WiFi-enabled device with the government and receive special permission in order to use the hardware.
Users who wish to operate a wireless access point or WiFi-enabled home router are expected to go through an even more onerous process that will involve submitting documentation and obtaining a license. In certain regions, like Moscow and St. Petersburg, users will also have to receive special approval from the Federal Security Service.
The policy would likely be impossible to enforce and some question whether the government agency even has the authority to enforce it. WiFi technology is a powerful enabler of mobile connectivity and technological innovation.
article quotes an industry specialist who points out that the government agency behind the policy is run by a former metallurgic engineer who likely has no clue about many of the technical issues overseen by his organization. In this respect, Russia has much in common with the US, where lack of relevant experience often seems to be a prerequisite for public office, especially when it comes to regulating the series of tubes that make up the interwebs.
3 years ago