DR-Digest 19/12/2014

The main events of the week:

#1

Roskomnadzor to limit access to the list of websites with restricted content

Russian regulator requested ISPs and mobile operators to provide a list of IP-addresses of Internet sources that publish the list of websites blocked by Roskomnadzor. The full black list is not available on the regulator’s website but it is possible to search whether or not any website is blocked. However, there are websites that publish the list, an example being www.rublacklist.net. Among the biggest operators, only Megafon received the regulator’s request. Roskomnadzor claims that this is to protect the black list from unauthorized access and illegal use of materials from blocked sources.

#2

Ukraine: state officials propose to block websites within 12 hours

A new redaction of the Copyrights Protection Bill may require hosting providers to block websites within 12 hours after receiving complaints from copyright holders. According to the new Bill, copyright holders may submit complaints directly to website owners or managers without any court orders. Hosting-providers would be required to block websites within 12 hours if website owners or managers ignore initial copyright holders’ complaint.

#3

Kyrgyzstan: public-sector employees and pensioners are not given their salaries and pensions

In Kyrgyzstan, the Government requires all citizens to submit their biometric characteristics and currently approximately 1.2 million citizens have submitted their biometrics. However, complaints from public sector employees and pensioners are becoming more frequent. Refusals to pay out wages and pensions without confirmation of biometrics data submission has provoked rising public discontent. Further, parents that have not submitted their biometrics have reported that their children were not allowed to attend final exams at school. Vice Prime Minister Serpashev asserts that the reason of reported infringements is a misunderstanding between the Government and members of the public.

#4

Crimea to launch new mobile operator

Crimean Vice Premier of the Council of Ministers Dmitry Polonskiy announced a plan to launch a telecom company to provide communication services in Crimea. Current communication services experience severe technical overloads which leads to connection disruptions.

#5

Minkomsvyaz asks developers to consolidate

Nikolay Nikiforov, the Minister of Communications and Mass Media of Russia, suggested that all developers be consolidated to form an association of software developers. At the  ystems conference (OS Day) Nikiforov specified the government’s position with regard to its support of software developers, he noted that the government would not sponsor developers separately but would rather support developers’ associations and unions. According to Nikiforov, each member of the association will provide its own employees to work on specific software projects. Developers working on specific projects will get paid from the association’s funds. The association will be sponsored by the government.

#6

100 000 WordPress websites attacked by hackers

More than 100 000 websites have been compromised as a result of Slider Revolution plugin vulnerability. The attack has resulted in more than 11,000 domains being blacklisted by Google. Many WordPress site administrators have not updated their copies of the Slider Revolution plugin to the patched version, leaving their sites open to compromise.

#7

Facebook virus

An unknown virus is spreading within the Russian segment of the popular social network. The virus is sending messages and posting videos on behalf of Facebook users. The virus is using infected users’ profiles to publish and send messages with videos. Posts published by the virus contain a link to external websites and users who click on the link become infected with malware which spreads the virus further.

#8

Belarus: new media regulations

A new Mass Media Bill introduced in Belarus has been approved by the Council of the Republic of Belarus. According to the new regulation, any information sources on the Internet or any website that contains information materials can be considered as a mass media. Foreign information sources would be required to obtain an authorisation to disseminate information in Belarus. Additionally, the new regulation would require website owners and administrators to control the information and comments published on their websites.