No Gmail or Skype for Russians says country’s security service

Using words like “uncontrolled use” and “security threat” the Russian security service is proposing that the country ban the use of web services like Skype, Hotmail and Gmail.

Due to the use of foreign made encryption technology the Federal Security Service (FSB) is expressing an increased concern over these global web services.

“Uncontrolled usage of these services may lead to massive threat to Russia’s security,” he said at a meeting of the government’s communication and technology committee.

Control of Internet traffic through these services is done from servers outside Russia, and so they are often used by extremist organizations, Andreyechkin was reported as saying before the meeting continued without the press.

Deputy communications minister Ilya Massukh later said that recommendations on regulating the mass usage of encryption technology would be given to the government by October 1.

The FSB would like to ban these services in Russia because “security authorities cannot access them,” Massukh was reported as saying.

Russian agencies quoted a Kremlin source later Friday as saying that Andreyechkin’s statements were “his own opinion and don’t reflect the government’s policy regarding development of the Internet.”

“Andreyechkin overstepped his authority and made hasty remarks about these popular services,” the source said, RIA Novosti reported.

“State policy in the sphere of Internet technology is not set by security services.”

via AFP/Google News