Why typewriters are all the rage in Moscow

Hint: It may have something to do with whistleblowing

Typewriter
(Image credit: Tom Grill/Corbis)

Edward Snowden leaked a veritable treasure trove of national security data using little more than a small thumb-drive and a burning desire to set information free, highlighting just how easy it is for a disgruntled government employee to leak sensitive files electronically.

Now, according to the Guardian, Russia is planning to adopt a "foolproof means of avoiding global electronic snooping" by turning back the clock...sort of. Namely, the Federal Guard Service (FSO), which is in charge of protecting top-ranked Russian officials, is investing 486,000 rubles (about $14,000) to purchase 20 typewriters for government use.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Chris Gayomali is the science and technology editor for TheWeek.com. Previously, he was a tech reporter at TIME. His work has also appeared in Men's Journal, Esquire, and The Atlantic, among other places. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.