Asmolov, Gregory2023-05-222023-05-222015-02-012017-01-31https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/37495This reflection on the report “Benchmarking Public Demand for Internet Freedom: Russia’s Appetite for Internet Control,” argues that protecting internet freedom is not possible without a shift in public opinion. Using Russian examples, Asmolov suggests that public opinion concerning internet regulation is a function of whether the online communications environment is perceived as dangerous–giving officials a chance to play an instrumental role in fostering a sense of peril online and fomenting an “internet as threat” narrative in the minds of the public.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/CommunicationReport