The Russian version of Wikipedia is closed to make an uncensored Network

The Russian version of Wikipedia has decided to close its service for a day in protest of Information Act that promotes the Russian executive. This is a bill that would compromise the freedom of the Internet, creating a list of websites not approved by the Government, which would be no access at home.

Governments around the world are trying to create an Internet law. In an attempt to adapt to current needs, governments try to create rules governing Internet traffic. The attempt to create a legal framework around the Internet is risk that restricts the freedom of the network and that governments use these laws for their own purposes.

The danger of the adoption of Internet standards has led to protests occurring around the world, such as those experienced before the vote in the U.S. SOUP. Russia is now trying to regulate the Internet through its known as the Information Act. In this law, there is a possibility to create lists of pages that violate different rules, allowing authorities to limit the connection to them.

The possible passage of the bill, which will be voted in parliament, has led to protests raise the threat to Internet freedom. Specifically, Wikipedia, as it did with SOPA, is the most widely mobilized to protest against Russian law.

The Russian version of the popular online encyclopedia of the Network has decided to close for one day in protest. When attempting to access a message service where the Wikipedia logo is covered by a black band. From Wikipedia has explained that the Russian law that parliament wants to approve could lead to "Internet censorship in Russia", which would affect any page, including Wikipedia.

In his message, the leaders of the Russian Wikipedia manifest "against censorship, dangerous for the free knowledge and open to all mankind." This is a campaign similar to that already used in the U.S., attended by a large number of websites and companies. The U.S. initiative got not approve the law and to be seen whether the Russian Wikipedia campaign achieves the same result.

Related links:

- Russian Wikipedia (http://ru.wikipedia.org/).

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Close the Russian Wikipedia to protest the Internet law

The Russian version of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia on Tuesday closed its site in one day a protest against what they said were the plans of President Vladimir Putin to create their own version of "Great Wall of China" to block Internet dissidents.

Supporters of the amendments of the law of information from Russia, who proposed the ruling party, United Russia, which will be discussed in Parliament on Wednesday, say the changes are necessary to protect children from dangerous places.

But the leaders of the protests antiPutin say the new law could close without a court order websites like Facebook and Twitter and aims to curb opposition movements, which are organized through social networks.

"These amendments may become a basis for true Internet censorship, forming a list of banned sites and IP addresses," said Wikipedia in Russia in a statement.

"The following provisions and the terms under discussion lead to the creation of the Russian equivalent of the 'Great Wall of China' in which access to the Wikipedia could close soon throughout the country."

Changes to information law would give government officials power to order the closure of websites without a court order, simply including them in a blacklist. China has some of the most effective methods to block Internet dissidents, closely controlling what can and can not be viewed.

Under the proposed changes in Russia, if the owner of a website does not remove content that is deemed inappropriate, the entire site can be blocked.

Opposition leaders and Russian citizens have used Facebook, Twitter and Russian site Vkontakte network to organize protests and distribute information antiPutin since the demonstrations began for the alleged violations in parliamentary elections last September.

"It's basically an attempt to infiltrate the last bastion of the opposition: the Internet. It is an attempt to kill the protest movement that depends on Internet. For me it is spelled 'China', which seems to be the direction we're headed" said opposition activist Natalia Pelevine.

Since Putin became president in May after four years as prime minister, Parliament has rushed to pass laws that increase penalties for protesters who exceed the line and is considering stricter rules for NGOs.

The opposition says the proposed changes in the law, and recent records in the houses of the event organizers, intended to quell the protests against Putin. The Kremlin denies it.

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