MOSCOW, December 6 (RAPSI) – President Vladimir Putin has approved a new Information Security Doctrine which is aimed at reinforcing the country's sovereignty, its territorial integrity, maintaining political and social stability, protecting human and civil rights and liberties, as well as crucial information infrastructure, according to the government's legal information website.

The document states that information technologies have extended over the globe becoming an integral part of all spheres, in which individuals, societies and states are active.

According to the new doctrine, the opportunities of cross-border circulation of data are increasingly used to achieve geopolitical, military and political (in contravention of international law), terrorist, extremist, and other illegitimate goals to the detriment of international security.

The state authorities are to strengthen the hierarchical structure of management of the computer systems, data processing and communications operators. Besides, the doctrine states, the state authorities are to improve certain aspects of functioning of the system ensuring information security.

The document was signed on Monday, December 5, and has already come into force.