Regional Public Center for Internet Technologies

The Regional Public Center for Internet Technologies (РОЦИТ, ROCIT) is a Russian public organization founded in 1996, making it one of the oldest civil-society bodies of the Russian internet (Runet). It describes itself as an association of active Russian internet users whose mission is to promote the development and spread of internet technologies in the interests of Russian citizens. Its stated goals include protecting the interests of users and internet professionals, developing a culture of internet consumption, and creating a platform for dialogue between users, business, and the state. ROCIT operates through a board (правление) that includes prominent figures from Russian IT, media, and academia, such as Anton Gorelkin (State Duma deputy and board chairman), Igor Ashmanov, Andrey Bystritsky, Andrey Vorobyov, Alexey Goreslavsky, Andrey Zotov, Sergey Plugotarenko, Mark Tverdynin, and Andrey Yarnykh. The director is Virginia Mozolevskaya. In 2021–2023 the board was chaired by Alexey Goreslavsky; in the mid-2000s Dzhan Khan-Magomedov played a major role in the organization's development. Its activities include educational projects on IT and digital literacy, research on internet usage, a hotline for reporting online rights violations, and the "IT is my future profession" educational project. ROCIT also runs a knowledge base covering topics such as fraud, internet banking, parental guidance, online payments, the right to be forgotten, cyberaggression, illegal content, internet law, and government services. It publishes research, such as a study on Russia's digital social platform ecosystem, and organizes events and commission meetings, including on information security and import substitution. As a public organization rather than a commercial company, ROCIT does not sell products; its "offerings" are its projects, research, and advocacy. It is funded through membership and partnerships, and it maintains a media center in Moscow where it hosts discussions and expert sessions. The organization remains active in 2024–2025, commenting on Russian internet policy and digital development.

The Regional Public Center for Internet Technologies (РОЦИТ) was founded in 1996, making it one of the oldest public organizations of the Russian internet. From its early years, it positioned itself as a unifying body for active Russian internet users, aiming to represent their interests and foster a friendly online environment. In the mid-2000s, Dzhan Khan-Magomedov played a significant role in the organization's development, helping to shape its agenda and public profile. Over the years, ROCIT expanded its activities to include educational projects on IT and digital literacy, research on internet usage, and a hotline for reporting violations of users' rights online. On 11 December 2014, ROCIT held a general meeting of members that resulted in what was described as a "reboot" of the organization, signaling a renewed focus and possibly a restructuring of its governance. In February 2015, the chairman of the board formulated five principles for internet users, and ROCIT came out against the introduction of an internet tax. In April 2015, it presented initiatives to protect mobile phone subscribers, and in May 2015 it sent an appeal to Rospotrebnadzor asking to protect users who had been defrauded when buying airline tickets online. In June 2015, it was reported that amendments would be made to the draft law "On the Right to Be Forgotten." In 2021–2023, the post of chairman of the board was held by Alexey Goreslavsky. As of the mid-2020s, the board is chaired by Anton Gorelkin, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies and Communications. The director is Virginia Mozolevskaya. The board includes representatives from major Russian IT companies, universities, and industry associations, such as Igor Ashmanov (Ashmanov and Partners), Andrey Bystritsky (HSE), Andrey Vorobyov (Coordination Center for .RU/.RF domains), Alexey Goreslavsky (IRI), Andrey Zotov (ADJ Consulting), Sergey Plugotarenko (RAEC), Mark Tverdynin (ROCIT), and Andrey Yarnykh (Kaspersky Lab). In recent years, ROCIT has continued to publish research, such as a study on the Russian ecosystem of digital social platforms, and to host events and commission meetings on topics like information security and import substitution. It maintains a media center in Moscow and remains an active voice in Russian internet policy discussions.

• 2025

  ROCIT publishes a study on Russia's digital social platform ecosystem and holds a strategic session on creative industries in Kemerovo.

• 2023

  Anton Gorelkin serves as chairman of the board.

• 2021

  Alexey Goreslavsky becomes chairman of the board (serving until 2023).

• 2015

  ROCIT formulates five principles for internet users, opposes internet tax, presents initiatives to protect mobile subscribers, appeals to Rospotrebnadzor over online airline ticket fraud, and comments on the 'right to be forgotten' law.

• 2014

  General meeting on 11 December leads to a 'reboot' of ROCIT.

• 2000

  Dzhan Khan-Magomedov plays a major role in the organization's development in the mid-2000s.

• 1996

  ROCIT founded as a Russian public organization for internet technologies.

A public, non-commercial organization representing Russian internet users and promoting a friendly online environment.

• Runet hotline

  A hotline for receiving complaints about violations of users' rights on the internet.

• Digital literacy research

  Research on the level of digital literacy in Russia.

• "IT is my future profession"

  An educational project aimed at introducing IT professions.

• ROCIT knowledge base

  A knowledge base with popular categories such as fraud, internet banking, for parents, online payments, right to be forgotten, cyberaggression, illegal content, internet and law, government services.

1. 1Главная | РОЦИТrocit.ru
2. 2О нас | РОЦИТrocit.ru
3. 3Regional Public Center for Internet Technologieswikidata.org
4. 4Региональный общественный центр интернет-технологийru.wikipedia.org