Articles by Andrei Soldatov

opinion
Andrei Soldatov

The Kremlin’s Ticking Tech Bomb (Op-ed)

On the eve of the election, protests are feeding the Kremlin’s already high level of internet paranoia
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

The Kremlin’s VPN Ban Has KGB Roots (Op-ed)

The Kremlin’s ban on VPNs is less about national security than self preservation
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Security First, Technology Second — Why It’s Back to the Future For Russian IT

In the Bavarian Alps there is a small mountain resort town, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, famous for its spectacular views and its hosting of the Nazi Olympics...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

RuNet 2016: Pressure Shifts From Companies to Citizens (Op-Ed)

The stakes are getting higher in the battle between the state and the Internet giants.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

FSB Will Welcome Russia's Internet Server Law


A little more than two years ago, in March 2012, Sergei Smirnov, first deputy director of the Federal Security Service, presented a policy paper...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

In Front of Putin, Internet Titans Lose Their Nerve

Even the recent and onerous restrictions on blogs were only mentioned once at the forum.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Putin, the Internet, and Popular Conspiracies

President Vladimir Putin, who had previously shown complete indifference to the Internet, has suddenly given an exhaustive explanation of his position...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

The True Role of the FSB in the Ukrainian Crisis

The intrigue is growing over the Federal Security Service's involvement in Ukraine. On April 11, Ukraine's Deputy Prosecutor General said there was...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

FSB Makes Eavesdropping an Olympic Event

The Kremlin not only did not deny allegations of illegal spying. They seemed to be proud of it.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

FSB's Olympic Spying

Russian intelligence agencies are violating the law when they gather metadata on citizens without a court order.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Russia's Spying Craze

After the FSB announced its plans to gain direct access to phone calls and e-mails without a court warrant, other Russian agencies said they want in on...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Snowden Comes Out of His Capsule At Last

After the Snowden news conference, the real question everybody is asking is: Does the FSB control Snowden's every action?
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

NSA Is No Match for the FSB

While the U.S. has checks and balances that regulate how the state eavesdrops on its citizens, Russia has none.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Both Sides Dropped the Ball on Tsarnaev

The failures of both the FBI and FSB show the lack of coordination that has hindered the joint battle on terrorism.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

The FSB Opens a New Foreign Front

The Federal Security Service will be given a detachment of agents to be assigned to permanent duty in foreign states.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

FSB's Cyber Silver Bullet

Russia can strengthen its defense against cyberattacks on state websites and the country's entire cyberspace by creating a CERT.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Now, Almost Anyone Is a Traitor

Journalists, NGOs and even bureaucrats fear that any contact with foreigners may qualify as treason under the new law.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Treating Smugglers as Spies

The illegal export of U.S. dual-use technology to Russia has always been a criminal offense, but it was never considered true espionage.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Why a Young American Wants to Be a Russian Spy

If you are lucky enough to be a Russian sleeper agent in the United States, you can earn a lot of money and do absolutely nothing.
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Police Using Sledgehammers to Crack Nuts

The March 5 protest rally on Pushkin Square revealed how government security forces were unprepared to respond properly to what should have been a very...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Why Putin Will Inherit an Unhappy FSB in 2012

However much funding has grown for the Federal Security Service during the 2000s, this fall they are facing their most serious internal crisis in years...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Kremlin's Plan to Prevent a Facebook Revolution

Recent events in the Arab world have sparked renewed optimism with online social networks. Many in the West are now convinced that Internet technology...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Imitation Anti-Terror

Two top officials who were conspicuously absent from President Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with top security officials — Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

Turning Misfit Spies Into Heroes

In Russia, the spy fiasco was flipped on its head and spun as a huge success: the agents “penetrated” U.S. society and duped the naive Americans for...
opinion
Andrei Soldatov

The Country’s New Nobility

In December 2000, then-director of the Federal Security Service proudly described the FSB’s rank and file: “Our best colleagues, the honor and pride...