Russian media reports say Russia and China will sign a cooperation treaty aimed at combating illegal content on the Internet this month/

According to TASS, Russia’s state internet regulator Roskomnadzor) and Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) will sign the agreement at the 5th International Internet Conference in China on October 20.  The agreement will have the status of an international treaty.   

“Close working contact that have taken place between Roskomnadzor and China’s Cyberspace Administration over the past two years will be secured by a bilateral cooperation agreement,” Roskomnadzor spokesman Vadim Ampelonsky was cited as saying by TASS.  

Earlier this year, a delegation from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which oversees national cyber policy, met officials at Roskomnadzor.

The Kremlin said last week the two powers had a special relationship.

Recall, critics have accused Russia’s authorities of trying to implement Chinese-style curbs on the internet.  Cooperation in this area between the two regulators could alarm proponents of internet freedom.