Russia's Putin Calls the Internet a 'CIA Project'

President Vladimir Putin has mocked the Internet as a CIA project and pledged to protect Russia's interests online.

The Kremlin has been anxious to exert greater control over the Internet, which opposition activists -- barred from national television -- have used to promote their ideas and organize protests. Russia's parliament passed a law requiring social media websites to keep their servers in Russia and save all information about their users for at least half a year.

Also, businessmen close to Putin now control Russia's leading social media network, VKontakte.