FSB: Gmail, Hotmail, Skype Must be Banned

Alexandr Andreyechkin, a high-ranking Russian Federal State Security Service (FSB) official, stated that services such as Gmail, Hotmail, and Skype threaten Russia’s state security and that their usage in Russia must be banned. His concern stems from the fact that the FSB is unable to intercept encrypted communication via those services. Andreyechkin made his statement during a session of the governmental commission for communications, which has created a working group to develop proposals on encrypted communication regulation. A Ministry of Communication spokesman said that the ministry opposes the ban. Moreover, an unnamed presidential administration official later told journalists that Andreyechkin expressed his “personal opinion” and “exceeded his authority.” In contrast, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s press secretary said that the FSB’s point of view is “well-founded and well-reasoned.” http://www.gazeta.ru/news/lastnews/2011/04/08/n_1784533.shtml http://www.lenta.ru/news/2011/04/08/fsb/ http://echo.msk.ru/news/764516-echo.html