Inside Russia’s Creepy, Innovative Internet
In the field of Internet technology, Russia is competing with Silicon Valley. As part of the Hello World series, the Bloomberg-produced documentary Inside Russia’s Creepy, Innovative Internet profiles some of the country’s most innovative endeavors and the people who make them possible.
The journey began with Dmitry Grishin, co-founder of Russian Internet company Mail.Ru Group. Grishin’s true passion is robotics, and his work ranges from drone control dispatch technology to the BB8 character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. These accomplishments have earned him the admiration of other titans of his field living in the United States, who all clamor for his unique brand of invention. But with tech entrepreneurship currently on the rise in his home country, he feels compelled to stay where he is for now.
The spirit of innovation has led to the birth of many tech start-ups in the region. Some of these are featured in the film, including efforts related to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. While the minds behind these efforts are progressive in exploring the technological possibilities, they often find themselves at odds with the governments monitoring their every move. The Kremlin has enacted a series of laws restricting the freedom of creators, and they have erected a wall of prohibition around virtual events in the country.
Historically, Russia has lagged far behind the rest of the world in terms of internet adoption. The film shows us how that all changed in 2012, when the internet became an electrifying forum for protesters to voice their opposition to the re-election of President Vladimir Putin. In response, the government has cracked down on these opposition sites and has worked tirelessly to replicate the Internet experience in the image it wishes to present. The film highlights the hacker community’s attempts to thwart these repressive tactics, and the balance that large cybersecurity firms have between serving international clients and occasionally deferring to the wishes of governments.
In a creepy place in Russia, the Internet of Innovation offers a fascinating glimpse into a generation of tech revolutionaries struggling to survive within the confines of an oligarchy.
Directed by: Ashlee Vance
