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Russia Wants All Wi-Fi Devices to Be Registered

by Darren Murph on April 16, 2008 at 06:39 AM

Sure, we've seen the occasional loony look down upon open Wi-Fi access, but Russia is apparently out to really slow down wireless adoption with its latest directive. Reportedly, the Russian Mass Media, Communications and Cultural Protection Service (or Rossvyazokhrankultura for short -- no seriously, we swear) is looking to have every user of a Wi-Fi-enabled device obtain permission and register said device before hopping on the world wide web.

Even worse, it seems as if every single wireless transmitter and device must be registered, meaning that technophiles will be filling out heaps of paperwork in order to get their handset, laptop, DS Lite, PC and hacked-up Foleo online (legally) via their home-based access point. We're hearing that registering a single PDA or phone would take around ten days, while signing up a new home network would be even more painstaking. We'll spare you the snide In Soviet Russia... remarks, but feel free to concoct your own below.

From The Other Russia (via Wi-Fi Net News)

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, law

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