Putin calls the internet a 'CIA project'

Not even the internet is safe from Russian President Vladimir Putin's skepticism. At a media forum Thursday in St. Petersburg, Putin commented that the World Wide Web was created as a "CIA project" and "is still developing as such," according to the Associated Press.

The comments come as the Kremlin is fighting to gain greater control of the internet, one of the only platforms for opposition activists who are forbidden from speaking out on national television. Putin added that Russia needs to "fight for its interests" online. This week, the country passed a law requiring social media websites to keep their servers in the country and store their users' information for at least half a year.

Putin's statements come days after Pavel Durov, the head of VKontakte (otherwise known as "Russian Facebook") was forced out by shareholders close to the Kremlin. Durov fled the country, allowing the government to take full control of the burgeoning social network.

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