Source: The Guardian
November 6, 2015
The Russian Orthodox Church has said it will offer free “Orthodox internet” Wi-Fi cleansed of immoral content near churches and in public places around Moscow.
Orthodox priest Roman Bogdasarov, who heads the Russian Inter-religious Council, told Izvestia newspaper that the internet contains many threats to users, including recruitment materials for Christian sects and Islamic State, pornography and “distorted versions of history”.
Bogdasarov said the new Orthodox internet would feature not just religious sites, but also popular content such as films that “instil in people correct values, such as traditional morality, patriotism, protection of family and children”.
“We’re not planning to limit access to any internet resources, just delete everything that brings evil to people under the guise of goodness,” Bogdasarov said.
One thing that users won’t be able to access is any mention of homosexuality.
According to Alexei Protopopov, director of child-safe internet vendor Crystal Protection which is setting up the new network, only information that religious leaders decide does not “disturb believers’ feelings” will be accessible.
News articles that are “seamy” – such as those mentioning a “nontraditional sexual orientation” – will not be available over the Wi-Fi networks, Protopopov said.
The church plans to work with city authorities to install the service in public places such as Manezh and Borovitskaya squares, the Winzavod Centre for Contemporary Art and Muzeon Art Park, Bogdasarov said.
The expansion of Moscow’s Orthodox churches – in pictures
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The head of the city’s department for multicultural policy, interregional cooperation and tourism told Izvestia that he supported the project.
President Vladimir Putin’s third term has been marked by a turn toward traditional values and tighter regulation of the internet. He has signed laws against “insulting the religious feelings of believers” and gay propaganda, as well as legislation requiring popular bloggers to register with the authorities and allowing regulators to blacklist any website found to contain material harmful to children.
