The Russian web shows an interesting alternate universe where western copyright is not a thing.
If the war leads to the downfall of Russia, I worry that the last vestiges of the ‘free’ internet that helps billions of people in third world countries access content will be gone forever.
It’s already partially the case with a good fraction of servers in Ukraine gone.
free != no laws enforced. you have a pretty narrow definition of free. I'd certainly choose the free where I don't "fall out of a window" for the wrong opinion, media is free and elections are free and democratic.
If the war leads to the downfall of Russia, I worry that the last vestiges of the ‘free’ internet that helps billions of people in third world countries access content will be gone forever.
I don’t think there are many people of such caliber in the country as Putin has gotten rid of any potential competition. It’s likely Western countries would be able to sign Budapest-like memorandums and get those nukes in favor of some guarantees.
Note how this is personified in the official propaganda and media. This is not "Russia", this is "Putin". This is a typical tactic to deny that whatever actions Russia has been taken reflect deeper interests and (Russian) public opinion but is instead only the result of a "mad man".
Anecdata sure … but I know some Russians that left Russia because of the war and unfortunately I know some that support it, too.
Buuuuut to say that Russia === Putin and they’re the same in that his war is their war is insane. IIF they had real open elections and still went to war then I’d say you have a point. But they don’t. It’s very much a war he is doing not that they want.
Comments
Does Russian count as ‘European’ alternative?
The Russian web shows an interesting alternate universe where western copyright is not a thing.
If the war leads to the downfall of Russia, I worry that the last vestiges of the ‘free’ internet that helps billions of people in third world countries access content will be gone forever.
It’s already partially the case with a good fraction of servers in Ukraine gone.
Nope, they are only considering companies from the EU, EEA, EFTA, or DCFTA [1].
So basically EU countries + Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine. Notably, this does not include the UK or Russia.
[1] https://european-alternatives.eu/about
Yeah sure, Russia is the last vestige of the free internet. That's certainly a hot take
Free in quotes, but yeah.
Try to host a server allowing people to download movies or songs and you’ll see how fast you are offline in most countries.
Check out how far governments went to snag the Pirate Bay folks and more recently the various darknet markets.
free != no laws enforced. you have a pretty narrow definition of free. I'd certainly choose the free where I don't "fall out of a window" for the wrong opinion, media is free and elections are free and democratic.
I was talking about the freedom of sharing things on the internet, not defining free.
Great that you bring up laws.
Step 1: Make a law against criticizing the state or leaders or laws...
Step 2: Make people fall out of windows for breaking that law.
Sci-hub. Edward Snowden.
What does 'russian web' have to do with servers in Ukraine?
Before the war Ukraine, as most CIS countries, were mostly using the Russian internet. Yandex, VK, etc.
These resources have been banned since 2015 here.
2017
Before that they even had offices in Kyiv.
Free porn transcends borders and geopolitics I guess.
What? Nobody is asking for the “downfall” of Russia. Just that Putin stops trying to rebuilt the USSR geographically and killing Ukrainians.
If war does break out and Russia or many countries including Russia is destroyed that’d be horrible.
There’s so much more to do in the world in 2025 so much more we could do as a species but as a species we seem hellbent on killing ourselves.
Not nobody. Some of us would love the prospect of not having Russia border our countries anymore.
I wonder how that future might pan out. If it’s like the modern Balkan countries, all good.
If it’s like six warlords with nukes, all bets are off.
I don’t think there are many people of such caliber in the country as Putin has gotten rid of any potential competition. It’s likely Western countries would be able to sign Budapest-like memorandums and get those nukes in favor of some guarantees.
After Ukraine, no. And if Poland gets nukes you can bet that every country in that region will.
even the parent poster isn't asking for the downfall of russia
It's one of the likely outcomes of the war unless someone with a decent amount of influence in Russia takes Putin down.
Note how this is personified in the official propaganda and media. This is not "Russia", this is "Putin". This is a typical tactic to deny that whatever actions Russia has been taken reflect deeper interests and (Russian) public opinion but is instead only the result of a "mad man".
My university had a number of Russian grad students, they were all lowkey supportive of the war.
Anecdata sure … but I know some Russians that left Russia because of the war and unfortunately I know some that support it, too.
Buuuuut to say that Russia === Putin and they’re the same in that his war is their war is insane. IIF they had real open elections and still went to war then I’d say you have a point. But they don’t. It’s very much a war he is doing not that they want.