Russia bans purchase of foreign non-niche software in Russian state agencies

[Virilha]

agreed. if it comes in the form of help/fund/fork of open source  
software, better.

----- Message from Zenaan Harkness <zen at freedbms.net> ---------
    Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2015 09:55:18 +0000
    From: Zenaan Harkness <zen at freedbms.net>
Subject: Re: Russia bans purchase of foreign non-niche software in  
Russian state agencies
      To: cypherpunks at cpunks.org


> Another article on the same topic. Although I like the phrase
> "complete sovereignty of information" I think it is vague - seems they
> mean "Russian government sovereignty over all domestic information
> processing" or something, which of course will have positive flow on
> effects, at least in the medium to longer term, for the domestic
> Russian software industry. Way to go Russia! More countries should act
> in such a protectionist way. What's the point of a country if it
> doesn't look after its own citizens and national interests?
>
>
> http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russia-restricts-use-of-foreign-software-in-battle-for-information-sovereignty/550106.html
>
> Russia Restricts Use of Foreign Software in Battle for ‘Information  
> Sovereignty’
>
>     By Peter Hobson
>     Nov. 20 2015 19:31
>     Last edited 19:31
>
> VedomostiUnder Friday's order, authorities will draw up a register of
> Russian computer programs that will verify the Russianness of software
> and promote its use.
>
> Russian officials will be barred from using foreign software from next
> year if a Russian version exists. The move, which is aimed at boosting
> Russia's national security and the country's tech industry, could cost
> foreign firms hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenues.
>
> The rules apply to local and national government entities and come
> into force on Jan. 1, 2016, according to an order signed by Prime
> Minister Dmitry Medvedev and published on the government's website on
> Friday.
>
> The order is part of a drive to wean Russia off imports in key areas
> of industry that was accelerated after Moscow's falling out with the
> West over Ukraine last year.
>
> It is also linked to fears of spying and sabotage by foreign
> intelligence services, who are feared to have access to software and
> equipment developed in their countries. This anxiety has led to calls
> to boycott iPhones, build a Russian operating system to rival
> Microsoft's Windows, and tighten control of the Internet.
>
> As Communications and Mass Media Minister Nikolai Nikiforov put it a
> year ago: "We stand for complete sovereignty of information."
>
> Under Friday's order, authorities will draw up a register of Russian
> computer programs that will verify the Russianness of software and
> promote its use.
>
> Foreign software giants such as SAP, Oracle, IBM and Microsoft
> recorded sales in Russia worth around $1.4 billion last year,
> accounting for some three-quarters of the market, according to news
> agency RBC. This included sales worth 20 billion rubles ($300 million)
> to government entities, the Kommersant newspaper reported.
>
> It is not clear how much foreign-made software has no analogue in
> Russia, but the government is promoting local production. It also
> seeks to train more programmers, though the most talented often end up
> in the tech hubs of California.
>
> Earlier this month Kommersant obtained a letter from the Association
> of European Businesses, a Moscow lobby group, warning that the planned
> law restricting use of non-Russian software would likely see foreign
> companies freeze investment or pull out of Russia.
>
> Contact the author at p.hobson at imedia.ru


----- End message from Zenaan Harkness <zen at freedbms.net> -----