The Russian government is continuing to increase its control of the Russian information space as it looks to shape the narrative in and outside of Russia surrounding its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of the War wrote in its latest update.
The D.C.-based think tank cited one Russian military blogger as saying the Kremlin's efforts to shape Russia's information space "look like a kitten against a rhinoceros" compared to foreign think tanks, non-profit organizations, and independent media.
Russia's State Duma is also reportedly considering a bill that would regulate online "recommender" algorithms on social media networks, online cinemas, search engines, and internet marketplaces, ultimately allowing the government to turn off specific algorithms, the ISW wrote, citing Russian news outlet Kommersant.
Russian military bloggers responded to reports of the bill by saying it would make it more difficult to share propaganda as it would restrict access to personally tailored information on the internet, the ISW noted.
