Russia wants all WiFi devices to be registered
By Darren Murph 
posted April 15th 2008 11:20PM
posted April 15th 2008 11:20PM
Sure, we've seen the occasional loony look down upon open WiFi access, but Russia is apparently out to really slow down wireless adoption with its latest directive. Reportedly, the Russian Mass Media, Communications and Cultural Protection Service (or Rossvyazokhrankultura for short -- no seriously, we swear) is looking to have every user of a WiFi-enabled device obtain permission and register said device before hopping on the world wide web. Even worse, it seems as if every single wireless transmitter and device must be registered, meaning that technophiles will be filling out heaps of paperwork in order to get their handset, laptop, DS Lite, PC and hacked-up Foleo online (legally) via their home-based access point. We're hearing that registering a single PDA or phone would take around ten days, while signing up a new home network would be even more painstaking. We'll spare you the snide In Soviet Russia... remarks, but feel free to concoct your own below.[Via Wi-Fi Net News]
In soviet russia, Wi-Fi sniffs you!!!
in soviet russia, wifi finds you!
In soviet russia, WIFI registers you!
What iz dis "freedom" dat you speak of komrade?
All your wi-fi are belong to us.
Putin to Russia: "Let's all register our Wi-Fi devices for the common good!"
Putin to Stalin: "Thanks for the idea buddy." ;)
In soviet russia, sucks to be you...
best soviet russia joke ever.
Yes.
in soviet russia, we dont need no stinkin--*BOOM HEADSHOT*
That's like 12 different tired memes rolled into one, that must have been an effort.
In America we have great decadence free wi-fi. we are sorrying comrades of mother russia
wait until I tell Moose and Squirrell!!!
I have to wonder how they're going to identify these devices. Mac addresses can be spoofed, and that's the only thing that can really be traced with any sort of accuracy.
one step closer to ingsoc
I don't think they had wifi in Airstrip One...
That's true, but it's one more tool for the FSB , and another small addition to the new Iron Curtain. This is something that's surely intended to snare dissidents and others who for good or bad run afoul of the "government". Savvy users should have no problem avoiding trouble, but this will certainly make users who don't know how to get around it think twice before speaking their minds.
you should watch the second half of zeitgeist. may not be true but makes you paranoid as hell for a week or two.
Well considering there really isn't much broadband outside of select major cities, and most pc users are in cafes, it doesn't seem like that big of a venture to register it all.
Rossvyazokhrankultura - Nice
in soviet russia, wifi connect to YOU
HAIL to the U.S.S.R.!!!!
In Soviet Russia, Wi-Fi devices register YOU!!
register or we will drop the iron Wi-Fi curtain. Like all other things the good boys will comply and the rest will continue to think outside the box.
in soviet russia, open wifi looks down at you
In Germany, you have to register your address for mobile numbers - even a PAYG SIM card needs registration. It's just a form in the store though, no 10 day waiting.
Just a little fun fact. Feel free to use it in those awkward silence moments.
That's to prevent terrorists from using them as bomb-detonators. I have my German cell phone, gave my address, and went on my merry little way. It took about 3 minutes out of my life.
Is that some rick rollage i see? I'm not clicking that!
What the hell is the point of requiring something like this? And why bring this about now? Wi-fi has been mainstream for a good number of years already...
Its like owning a dog in India. No one in their right mind will bother to get it registered, and pay a bribe to get things moving, will will cost more than the dog.
Just one more attempt but Putin and his cronies to restrict free expression and communication so that a full reversion to communist repression can occur quietly and without revolt. Beware the sleeping bear, he is ready to awake again enriched after this capitalistic venture.
wat
in soviet russia, i roll rick
in mother Russia, we register WiFi for tax money. Long live Lenin, and Stalin and ........
.....(poisoned by Putin)
I must be missing something on the bulk of the comments.
Yeah, me too. I think it's humor.
Google "Yakov Smirnoff".
In Soviet Russia, comments miss the bulk of you.
/see how it works?
//no, it's isn't funny anymore.
in soviet Russia, we claim to be democratic, but we really require the foolish peasants to register the 3 wifi devices in country.
Sucks to live in Russia as a geek...
"Sucks to live in Russia"
Fixed
it's cold up there. and cars are dirty.
Wow, looks like I was completely wrong...
I thought only old people like Yakov Smirnoff.
LOLZ!
Thank God I am Ukrainian, not russian, and my country doesn't require this.
Yes, they stated that they can confiscate *any* wi-fi device now, even though their law "on communications" (straight translation) says wi-fi devices don't need registration.
Mr. Karpov must have hit his head somewhere. He said, *every home wi-fi is a hot-spot and should be registered with a full set of documents, while wi-fi supporting devices can be registered on an individual and only used by this individual*. And yes, he said they'll confiscate it if you give your laptop or cell with wi-fi to anyone else. LOL!!!
Well, the funniest thing is that the head of the governmental agency that controls communications (mass media, personal info protection, giving frequencies ect, read as Russian FCC) is now headed by an engineer-metallurgist by education. I don't think he actually knows laws he needs to protect.
Yes, I agree with fontanka.ru - professional degradation is easy to see. And you know why? Because after soviet union fell apart, Ukrainian specialists went back to Ukraine and now work in EU and USA.
I'm really happy I'm not russian xD I actually pity them greatly, though its hard to notice xD
"Yes, I agree with fontanka.ru - professional degradation is easy to see. And you know why? Because after soviet union fell apart, Ukrainian specialists went back to Ukraine and now work in EU and USA."
sweet dreams, comrade, sweet dreams. Working in EU and the US - doing what? spreading their legs every now and then?
LOLZ? What is that? A corruption of LULZ? I don' think so...
2_Shinigami
Yeah, russians are stupid because all the Ukrainians left to work abroad... as a construction site workers... seriously, i understand your patriotism but think about what you are writing. I am russian but i'm glad i don't live there anymore. Our government is a bunch of corrupt idiots, who failed literacy tests. Democracy? oh yeah.....
this thing with Wifi really sucks, and it's obviously unlawful, but i think only big organizations will register, private users will just ignore all this.
In soviet Russia, laws mean nothing.
To Shinigami,
"Yes, I agree with fontanka.ru - professional degradation is easy to see. And you know why? Because after soviet union fell apart, Ukrainian specialists went back to Ukraine and now work in EU and USA."
I can understand "blind patriotism", but calling Russians stupid in every single post of yours is plain childish. I feel for all those poor Russians (about 50% of current Ukranian population) that are forced to deal with people like you.
Nu 4e vbIebnulsya ?
This is stupid...
The comments are not any better...