The Guardian :

Russian president's remark fans idea that has gained ground in Germany, Brazil and elsewhere after Edward Snowden's revelations.

Vladimir Putin gave his clearest signal yet that he aims to break up the global nature of the internet when he branded the network a "CIAproject" on Thursday.

The Russian president told a media conference in St Petersburg that America's overseas espionage agency had originally set up the internet and was continuing to develop it.

Putin has long hinted that he wants a Russian-run alternative. The idea of breaking up the internet has gained ground in Germany, Brazil and elsewhere round the world in the light of the revelations by whistleblowerEdward Snowden about the extent to which the US National Security Agency has infiltrated Facebook, Skype and other social media.

Snowden's critics say that an unintended consequences of his revelations has been to undermine the global nature of the web as well as playing into the hands of dictators. His supporters counter that it is the NSA rather than Snowden that has damaged trust in the service.

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