The law requires Russian internet providers to install equipment provided by the authorities to enable centralized control of data traffic MOSCOW: Russia carried out tests Monday to ensure the “security” of its Internet infrastructure in case of a foreign cyberattack as part of measures that rights activists worry could also lead to online isolation. A controversial law that allows the country to cut internet traffic from international servers came into force in November, but the Communications Ministry has denied that the government is gearing up to isolate the Russian segment of the internet and said ordinary users would not notice the tests. The ministry said that the drills are aimed at ensuring the “integrity” of the internet. “The purpose of the task is to ensure the reliable operation of the internet in Russia in any conditions and under any circumstances,” Deputy Communications Minister Alexei Sokolov said in televised remarks on Monday, speaking from the Monitoring and Cyber Threat Response Center. “Our task is to make sure everything works. That’s what today’s drills are aimed at.” The law, which President Vladimir Putin signed in May, requires Russian internet providers to install equipment provided by the authorities to enable centralized control of data traffic. They will also filter content to prevent access to banned websites. At his annual news conference last week, Putin defended Russia’s internet policies, promising that the country was not “moving toward closing off the internet.” “A free Internet and a sovereign Internet are two concepts that aren’t mutually exclusive,” he said. The Internet is the country’s main forum for political debate and opposing voices as well as coordinating opposition demonstrations. The new system is set to go online in 2021. Internet providers need to ensure before that time that their networks have the technical means for “centralized traffic control” to counter potential threats. The main providers have already begun installing the required equipment including the enabling of Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) which would allow Russia’s Roskomnadzor Internet watchdog to analyze and filter traffic. Supporters of the legislation say the aim is to ensure Russian sites keep working if they are unable to connect to international servers or in the case of threats from abroad such as cyberattacks.