Russians like the idea to create an independent Internet for the BRICS countries.
MOSCOW, January 29, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to the development of the Internet in Russia and abroad.
Generally, every second Russian (52%) considers that the development of Internet as a world space is useful. Thirteen percent support the idea to create a separate Internet within the boundaries of several states. Apart from neighbors such as Belarus and Kazakhstan, one of Russia’s key partners is China. About one-quarter (23%) opt for local Internet limited to Russia’s boundary.
Fifty-eight percent of Russians support a separate Internet within the boundaries of the BRICS states (29% oppose the idea).
As to the advantages of the proposal, half of Russians cite safety of personal data (49%), better protection against hacking attacks or prevention of attacks (49%). On the other hand, 41% of respondents are afraid of restrictions accessing certain global network resources.
Interestingly, today many Russians are rethinking the role of the Internet as a global information space: whereas in 2000 two-thirds of respondents (64%) said that the development of the Internet was advantageous, in 2018 this share is less than 46%.
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on January 12-13, 2018. The survey involved 2,000 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2000 and 2013 results are based on household surveys.
In your opinion, what form of the Internet development would be beneficial for Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more | Those who use the Internet almost every day | Those who use the Internet several times a week, a month | Those who use the Internet occasionally or never use it |
Internet uniting the entire world | 52 | 68 | 58 | 53 | 54 | 38 | 63 | 46 | 29 |
Internet within the boundaries of Russia and several other states | 13 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 11 |
Internet within the boundaries of Russia only | 23 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 27 | 18 | 29 | 30 |
Don’t know | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 6 | 10 | 30 |
In your opinion, which countries should Russia join to create its own Internet? Up to 3 counties (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who support a separate Internet within the boundaries of Russia and several other states; answers by at least 2% of respondents) | |
| % respondents |
Belarus | 30 |
China | 29 |
Kazakhstan | 24 |
Germany | 19 |
France | 11 |
Japan | 9 |
Great Britain | 7 |
Armenia | 6 |
India | 5 |
USA | 5 |
Italy | 4 |
Ukraine | 4 |
Turkey | 3 |
CIS | 2 |
Every country | 2 |
Greece | 2 |
Kyrgyzstan | 2 |
Uzbekistan | 2 |
Australia | 2 |
Spain | 2 |
Canada | 2 |
Czech Republic | 2 |
Other | 24 |
Don’t know | 21 |
The BRICS countries include Brasilia, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The Russian Council is discussing the creation of a separate Internet for several states. Do you personally approve/disapprove of this initiative? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
Likely to approve | 58 | 48 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 61 |
Likely to disapprove | 29 | 39 | 33 | 27 | 31 | 26 | 25 |
Don’t know | 13 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 14 |
Why do you approve of a separate Internet connection for Russia and other BRICS countries? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who approve of initiative) | |
| % respondents |
Integration, development of cooperation between the countries | 15 |
Free communication / integration of people / freedom of speech | 14 |
To become separated from the western countries (USA, NATO); no propaganda will be possible | 12 |
Exchange of information, knowledge, experiences | 8 |
They are our allies | 7 |
More complete information / no restrictions | 6 |
Data safety | 5 |
Independence | 4 |
No harmful information (porn, ads, viruses) | 4 |
For common good | 3 |
It is important to have a separate internet / an alternative | 3 |
Control | 1 |
I trust the government / the president | 1 |
It is important for the country | 1 |
Other | 4 |
Don’t know | 27 |
Why do you disapprove of a separate Internet connection for Russia and other BRICS countries? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who disapprove of initiative) | |
| % of respondents |
Restriction on communicating with the rest of the world / social isolation | 15 |
There must be a place for the world wide web | 12 |
No point | 11 |
Too much garbage in the internet | 10 |
Restriction on information, propaganda, totalitarianism | 9 |
There must be no restriction / internet must be independent | 7 |
Russia should not unite with the BRICS countries | 5 |
Internet must be Russian only | 4 |
There will be an opportunity to communicate with people | 4 |
I am against the Internet | 3 |
There will not be development | 3 |
Extra costs | 1 |
Other | 4 |
Don’t know | 26 |
To what extent do you agree/disagree with the following statements concerning a separate Internet connection for the BRICS countries? (closed-ended question, one answer per each line, % of all respondents) | |||||
Completely disagree | Rather disagree | Don’t know | Rather agree | Completely agree | |
Separate internet connection will help to prevent possible hacking attacks from other countries and international organizations | 13 | 13 | 25 | 27 | 22 |
Separate internet connection will help to secure persona data of Russians | 11 | 12 | 28 | 28 | 21 |
Separate internet connection will restrict Russians’ access to the world wide web | 10 | 17 | 32 | 23 | 18 |
Separate internet connection partially overlapping the world wide web will ensure the access to the Internet in case of Internet failure | 6 | 10 | 55 | 19 | 10 |
In your opinion, does the Internet uniting the world bring more good or harm to the society? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2000 | 2013 | 2018 |
More good | 64 | 53 | 46 |
More harm | 36 | 24 | 39 |
Don’t know | 0 | 23 | 15 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!