On April 17, the 23rd Russian Internet Forum (RIF) kicked off at the Lesnye Dali recreation center in the Moscow Region. The main theme of the opening ceremony was the key event of 2019, the 25th anniversary of Runet and the Russian national domain .RU. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, State Duma Deputy Leonid Levin, and other government officials sent their congratulations on the anniversary of the .RU domain to the participants of the RIF.
Speaking at the RIF opening, Sergei Petrov, General Director of the Internet Development Institute, noted that one of the most important topics of today is the responsibility of IT giants for using personal data, and that the topic of professional ethics in personal data processing was widely discussed at the recent Russian Internet Governance Forum (RIGF) 2019.
At the RIF, statistics on all aspects of Runet development, including the state of the Russian domain market, were presented in a study by the Russian Association of Electronic Communications. According to the study, the Russian domain market grew by 3.3 billion rubles, or 3.1 percent in 2018. In his speech, Andrey Vorobyev, Director of the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ, commented on these data, as well as on the fact that the .RU domain continues to hold its position in world rankings, despite slightly slower growth in recent years. “Most other domain zones are not growing either, while Russian users are very loyal to their domain and prefer to register domain names in .RU, unlike US and many Asian users,” said Vorobyev.
Andrey Vorobyev also focused on current issues of network security and internet governance, key topics from the RIGF 2019, as well as on the need to develop international cooperation in information security and personal data safety: “As far back as the 19th century, Prince Gorchakov said, “Russia concentrates,” and today this can be seen better than ever. Russia makes numerous proposals on internet governance at the international level, and many of these proposals are accepted.”
Igor Lyapunov, a representative of Rostelecom, continued the topic, speaking about the main trends in cyber security. He noted that the internet is a united and cross-border space, and this means that coordinated efforts of different countries and international organizations are required to ensure security. Andrey Vorobyev added that, in accordance with the latest cyber security documents, the stable work of the public core of the internet is highly valued. In conclusion, Vorobyev noted that the key to success is the joint work of all members of the internet community. “If we work together, then we will win!” said Vorobyev.
Immediately after the plenary session, a workshop, How to Protect Your Rights on the Internet, took place. There lawyers of leading Russian companies described in detail how to defend your rights on the internet and how to protect yourself from unfair claims. Deputy Director for Legal Issues of the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ Sergei Kopylov talked about what the Coordination Center does to ensure that the rights of brand owners are respected and that the rights of ordinary internet users are not violated, and gave detailed instructions on what steps need to be taken to protect these rights on the internet.
The speech by Irina Shurmina from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (Russia) LLP drew great interest. The practicing lawyer spoke about how to avoid litigation and how to interact with patent attorneys, and also shared many interesting examples from her experience.
Pavel Patrikeyev from REG.RU gave the participants a lot of useful advice on choosing a domain name so that the risk of losing the domain due to third-party claims would be minimal. He suggested that right holders and domain name administrators use the checklists to avoid many problems.
Maxim Lagutin from B-152, an expert in working with Roskomnadzor, spoke about the regulator’s requirements for online shopping sites. Most of them relate to work with personal data. The speaker informed the participants about how to properly prepare for Roskomnadzor inspections, and gave practical advice on working with the agency.
During the three days of the RIF, accredited registrars in .RU and .РФ will hold various quizzes and competitions at the Coordination Center’s stand (V2-V3). Winners and participants will receive memorable souvenirs. The center’s chalet, which is located near the entrance to the main building of the Lesnye Dali recreation center, is hosting the Learn the Internet, Manage It! championship. The prizes are related to the anniversary of .RU. Don’t miss your chance to take part in the competitions! Go for it!
Welcome to the RIF!
