MOSCOW, April 16 — Russia’s lower house of parliament approved today the third reading of a draft law that aims to increase Moscow’s sovereignty over its Internet segment and defend against foreign meddling, Interfax agency reported.

The bill must now be approved by parliament’s upper house and the presidency before passing into law.

The bill’s authors said earlier that the measures are needed to defend the country after the United States adopted what they described as aggressive new cyber security policies last year. — Reuters