Countries that Run Their Own National Intranets

In just a few decades, the Internet has expanded to connect most of the globe, broadening access to information and services for about 55% of the world. Not everyone thinks that’s a good idea, though. Motivated by the desire to control information and increase national security, some countries have constructed national intranets: walled garden networks usually maintained by the government as a local substitute for the global Internet. North Korea is the most famous example of this, with the intranet being the only form of Internet allowed in the country, but other countries, particularly Iran and Cuba, have rolled out related programs, and Russia is… Read more