ICANN's rejection of Ukraine's request to sever Russia from the internet [pdf] (icann.org)

Article summary

ICANN rejected Ukraine's request to sever Russia from the internet. The request was made in an effort to prevent Russian propaganda and disinformation. The discussion around this topic is ongoing, with some arguing that cutting off Russia from the internet would be ineffective and others believing it could help prevent the spread of misinformation. The effectiveness of such a measure is debated among commentators.

Main themes

• internet censorship
• Russian propaganda
• disinformation
• free speech
• global internet governance
• cybersecurity threats

What commenters say

• Cutting off Russia from the internet would not be an effective way to prevent propaganda and disinformation.
• Russia's actions, including promoting hacking and releasing malware, warrant their exclusion from the global internet.
• Restricting access to the internet for any country or group is a form of censorship that can have unintended consequences.
• The Russian government's control over media and propaganda efforts is a significant concern that needs to be addressed.
• The spread of misinformation and propaganda can be countered with more accurate information and fact-checking.
• Isolating Russia from the internet could allow the government to push an anti-western agenda and hide the consequences of the war.
• There are differences in how Russia and other countries, like the US, handle free speech and protests, with Russia being more restrictive.
• The effectiveness of fact-checking and debunking propaganda is limited by the difficulty of disproving false information and the willingness of some to believe it.