Norilsk is a town of 180,000 in the middle of nowhere, its also an Arctic nickel-mining hub and Russia’s most isolated major city. It is so remote that it is unreachable by road. For a long time Internet was only available via a slow and shaky satellite link. Russia TV stations are all controlled by Putin so for a long time all the citizens had was the official view.
Two years ago, a mining company brought fast Internet fia fiber to the city. Russia is not like China, where Internet is under nearly complete control by the government, so citizens suddenly were able to visit Youtube, instagram and forums.
Suddenly, the "carefully crafted image of a resurgent Russia and a decadent, devious West is becoming more difficult for Moscow’s spin doctors to maintain". An instagram account suddenly started to post pictures of dirty tap water and uncollected trash with comments like "At least they tell us on television that our lives are wonderful".
Other found out about this summer’s Moscow protests or did Youtube videos about allegedly wrongful property transfer engineered by the citys mayor.
We will see how long it takes for Russia to get rid of politics plundering its wealth.
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/20/world/europe/russia-internet-norilsk-youtube-arctic.html
Two years ago, a mining company brought fast Internet fia fiber to the city. Russia is not like China, where Internet is under nearly complete control by the government, so citizens suddenly were able to visit Youtube, instagram and forums.
Suddenly, the "carefully crafted image of a resurgent Russia and a decadent, devious West is becoming more difficult for Moscow’s spin doctors to maintain". An instagram account suddenly started to post pictures of dirty tap water and uncollected trash with comments like "At least they tell us on television that our lives are wonderful".
Other found out about this summer’s Moscow protests or did Youtube videos about allegedly wrongful property transfer engineered by the citys mayor.
We will see how long it takes for Russia to get rid of politics plundering its wealth.
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/20/world/europe/russia-internet-norilsk-youtube-arctic.html