Roscomnadzor’s press-office also said they didn’t intend to block the whole website, and would be able to only block the offending content and pages, provided Wikipedia’s management “cooperated” and removed the HTTPS encryption protocol that puts the whole website in danger of being blocked

  • Lord Strasburger: My Lords, there are half a dozen or so civil liberties organisations that could greatly assist the Government in coming up with a balanced investigatory powers Bill. Which civil liberties organisations have the Government consulted?
  • Lord Bates: They will have the same opportunity as anybody else to participate in the consultation process. There is also a statutory code of practice that has been introduced, and we are open to consultations. We will listen to them but I have to say that at present, when you see the threats that are faced by this country, I am going to listen more to the people who are actually trying to protect us and keep us safe.

However, in favour of not providing the information requested we consider that public confirmation of the version of operating system in use would provide information useful to those wishing to harm the Department’s IT systems. This may enable them to continue their cyber-attacks, or may damage any attempt to identify them via law enforcement agencies.