In another sign of the times, some Russian websites have been offering letters to Grandfather Frost (the Russian Santa Claus), which also collected children's personal details. Russia's media regulator is actually investigating 76 such sites for data misuse offences.
However, in a bid not to look too mean spirited, its offered its own state sponsored version of the traditional letter to Grandfather Frost.
After the spaces for their first name age and behaviour it proceeds .... "This year I have been studying very well... I was obedient to my parents" .... then some lines on the local weather that Grandfather Frost might have to face (I guess it differs from Siberia to the Black Sea), then the immortal money shot lines "They say that you give presents to children for the New Year. Please give me and my parents [blank]. I would be very grateful for this present. Thank you!" ... signature space.
I found the words 'They say' rather odd, and harking back somewhat to the communist era when religion was mocked, but it was the advise they added on their website that told you we live in really different times. It added the caution to both parents and children, that the real Grandfather Frost "will never ask for your precious personal details" such as full name, date of birth, address or school. Data misuse is a worldwide problem, even in a land where state hackers thrive.
There was some mocking of all this, but with Russia's economy struggling, I guess many Russian children may not be getting a visit from Grandfather Frost this year anyway.
 |
| Grandfather Frost Gives Presents To All Good Little Boys .... Have You Been A Good Boy Vladimir? |
However, in a bid not to look too mean spirited, its offered its own state sponsored version of the traditional letter to Grandfather Frost.
After the spaces for their first name age and behaviour it proceeds .... "This year I have been studying very well... I was obedient to my parents" .... then some lines on the local weather that Grandfather Frost might have to face (I guess it differs from Siberia to the Black Sea), then the immortal money shot lines "They say that you give presents to children for the New Year. Please give me and my parents [blank]. I would be very grateful for this present. Thank you!" ... signature space.
I found the words 'They say' rather odd, and harking back somewhat to the communist era when religion was mocked, but it was the advise they added on their website that told you we live in really different times. It added the caution to both parents and children, that the real Grandfather Frost "will never ask for your precious personal details" such as full name, date of birth, address or school. Data misuse is a worldwide problem, even in a land where state hackers thrive.
There was some mocking of all this, but with Russia's economy struggling, I guess many Russian children may not be getting a visit from Grandfather Frost this year anyway.
No comments:
Post a Comment
All comments are welcomed, or even just thanks if you enjoyed the post. But please make any comment relevant to the post it appears under. Off topic comments will be blocked or removed.
Moderation is on for older posts to stop spamming and comments that are off topic or inappropriate from being posted .... comments are reviewed within 48 hours. I don't block normal comments that are on topic and not inappropriate. Vexatious comments that may cause upset to other commentators, or that are attempting to espouse a particular wider political view, are reviewed before acceptance. But a certain amount of debate around a post topic is accepted, as long as it remains generally on topic and is not an attempt to become sounding board for some other cause.
Final decision on all comments is held by the blog author and is final.
Comments are always monitored for bad or abusive language, and or illegal statements i.e. overtly racist or sexist content. Spam is not tolerated and is removed.
Commentaires ne sont surveillés que pour le mauvais ou abusif langue ou déclarations illégales ie contenu ouvertement raciste ou sexiste. Spam ne est pas toléré et est éliminé.