Privacy is a concept that exists even in the most collectivist societies on Earth. But how people view it really depends on their own culture. Russia finds itself in the middle of the world between East and West. This makes its concept of privacy very unique and somewhat different from everyone. When the Russian media proudly speaks of RuID, Biometrics or the fact that Moscow has a seemingly infinite number of surveillance cameras, many Westerners see this as cause for concern. They may even start to believe the much repeated myth that “Putin wants to restore the USSR” – Communism and all. But things are not so black-and-white. Let’s take a look at recent tendencies and policies related to privacy in Russia.
Orban’s unique insights
To begin this look into Russians’ view of privacy, let’s review the words of Viktor Orban as he spoke to Tucker Carlson about the Russian mindset and how it is different.
“To understand the Russian’s it’s a difficult thing. Especially if you have an ocean between you and Russia (like the USA has). So when we speak about politics, I mean (we) Westerners, what is the focus point of our conversation? The focus point is freedom, how to provide more freedom, to the people. When you speak (about) politics in Russia this is not the #1 issue. The number #1 issue is how to keep together the country.” – Viktor Orban
The Prime Minister of Hungary is one of the few powerful and influential people on the global stage that is truly neutral towards Russia. He neither wants hostility or war with Russia nor does he consider Russia to be European/Western. He does not want Hungary to become part of the Russian World. But he also does not see Russian culture as any sort of threat or problem whatsoever.
So, in Prime Minister Orban’s view Russians do value a sort of Western-style freedom too. It just gets trumped by the need to keep the state healthy and operating. This is quite interesting and there is definitely some truth to this. However, recently I did a bit of a social experimenting of sorts that may reveal another level of nuance.
What Russians themselves say
I asked my audience (I am fairly popular in Russia) about their thoughts on the quantity of cameras in Moscow. Do these cameras infringe on their freedom in their own opinion? There are vastly more cameras on the streets in Moscow than New York. Of all the many answers the top result by far was something like – “But the cameras don’t show what’s happening in your apartment”. That is to say, if the cameras are pointed at the street, then who cares? Firstly, this is true, all of these numerous surveillance devices are aimed as to not show what people are doing in their apartments/homes. Secondly, it would seem that for Russians, privacy may begin at the threshold to their personal living space.
It is very important to note that Russians are categorically against intrusion by the state into their homes. But they may very well support enforced order “on the streets”. Russians have supported bans for public drinking and smoking. There are zero calls for these rules to extend to their dachas. This dividing line is very clear and goes back to Orthodoxy. What happens at home “is between you and God”. Russians are often surprised at how in Protestant countries they often do not use curtains in their dwellings. For Russians it is assumed we are all weak at times and it is best to keep the home private.
Image above: Technology is helping in the battle against illegal immigration in Russia
Where did these policies come from?
Cameras
The cameras on Russia’s roads are an “objective” alternative to many years of “subjective” enforcement by the highway patrol. That is to say that they were a response to public outcry. Now, the “state troopers” of Russia who are flesh-and-blood humans deal with documenting accidents and checking to see if someone is intoxicated or lacks a license while driving. All of these are objective issues.
When it comes to cameras on the street, it is this type of surveillance that allowed Russian police to catch the terrorists who attacked Crocus City. They also solve/punish an untold number of crimes that would have been impossible with 1970s technology.
RuID and Biometrics
In response to public demand, and the aforementioned Crocus City terror attack, laws and attitudes towards migrant labor in the country are quickly changing. Many individuals from the former USSR have shown little gratitude for the opportunity to work in Russia. A significant number break the law in various ways and are deported. But, often these migrants would simply change their name in their own native country. Then they’d come back to Russia “rebranded” and continue violating local laws and customs for fun and profit.
Because of this type of problem, biometric date and RuID have been implemented. They allow the state to know who is who in Russia, and furthermore, to find out who is an immigrant and who is a temporary migrant worker. Previously these categories were quite blurred under the law. Conversely those that need to be deported will have a much harder time dodging the question and trying to return.
Now that there is a legal category for those who are immigrating to Russia and will assimilate into the culture, these people will have access to the government services of the nation which are done via the government service website “gosuslugi”.
Image above: An advertisement for the Max messenger
Max, WhatsApp and Telegram
The VK company, Russia’s equivalent to “Meta”, has released for testing a messenger service of national importance called “Max”. During the Special Military Operation, it became clear that relying on WhatsApp and the supposedly neutral Telegram lead to information being compromised. Both services, especially after the arrest of Pavel Durov are essentially open to Western intelligence. In the past there were moves to make a Russian messenger, two of these I actually worked on personally, but they failed at the time, ultimately due to the massive popularity of Western social media. However, we are now in a post-sanctions world and Max is soon to set the standard for communication in Russia.
Russia’s remaining few liberal voices have called Max “Orwellian” and an earpiece for the FSB. But, they neglect the fact that WhatsApp/Telegram are just earpieces for the CIA, MI6 and Mossad. So the question is which of the aforementioned groups do you trust to only hack your account in the instance of a warrant being approved by a neutral judge? I think the answer to that is obvious after the Snowden leaks. You can download Max for yourself right here.
Image above: Russians do not tolerate HOAs, various inspections or other intrusions on their own property.
Half-way to the West
Many of the things that may seem to be violations of privacy in Russian society are actually demands from the people being put into law and not the other way around. Privacy begins at the threshold and Russians militantly want control over what happens inside their fence. And, for those events and occasional moral failings to remain there. Russians accept that in the online world pure privacy is impossible. But, trust that “their guys” are less likely to go over the line than Zuckerberg and friends. New forms of ID have been successful in combating bad behavior from migrant workers. And, they are keeping bad elements of the highway patrol away from the wallets of the populace. Regardless of your personal feelings, everything in Russia makes sense if we choose to try to understand it.