Russian Duma deputy proposes internet 'whitelist'

A Russian State Duma deputy has proposed creating a 'whitelist' of verified citizens who would be exempt from mobile internet shutdowns. Dmitry Gusev from the 'A Just Russia' party suggests linking the list to verified accounts on the 'Gosuslugi' state services portal, an idea previously floated by a major telecom CEO. Gusev also advocates for a list of permitted VPNs, arguing a total ban harms corporate security, and wants a 'whitelist' of hosting providers physically located in Russia to guarantee their uninterrupted operation. He further insists that 'reliable' Russian IT firms be given access to key foreign development tools to maintain domestic software production and 'technological sovereignty.'