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Comment by Yuioup | Hacker News Reader

No it isn't. It's a means for Russia to export propaganda to the West. That's why we're in this mess.

Your point is valid but you've completely sidestepped the question and have not entertained contrary possibility. The question is a legitimate one. Don't the people of Russia deserve to learn about their world via the Internet? If for anything, to decide on the objectivity of the news they'd get via a propaganda machine anyway? Surely that's a way of not staving off the potential in grassroots movements to bring about resistance and change.

Access to the Internet should be a human right in today's age. Depriving any nation state of that right is like foisting upon them a poverty greater than an economic one - I'd argue we are all poorer off if we have 2 North Koreas.

Here's the thing though, we already know Russia has tested cutting themselves off from the rest of the internet This implies they have their Gateways ready to bounce out all inbound traffic. Leaving the door open only offers the possibility of exporting out malicious traffic.

Though again, I'm very reluctant to take the position of cutting off a country because their leadership is being daft. If anything, it would be prudent to leave the door open so resources can be used by the populace to resist.

Unless, of course, there is actually majority support for this action.

Perhaps people should learn to check multiple sources instead of trusting random posts on the internet. One would hope for the same to combat American propaganda as well.

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