De onthullingen over elektronische spionage door de VS kunnen Rusland – en andere non-liberale staten – ertoe brengen de toegang tot het internet aan banden te leggen en hun eigen nationale datanetwerken te gaan uitbouwen.
Revelations of electronic surveillance by the US may lead Russia – and other illiberal states – to restrict Internet access and create their own nationally controlled data networks. There is even talk of Russia and China creating an alternative international payment system to replace the SWIFT system, which the US and Europe can use to impose financial sanctions against Russia.