From May 5, mandatory identification in instant messengers by phone number will be introduced.

On July 30, 2017, the President signed bill on amendments to the Federal Law “On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection”. Thus, the concept of a messenger - “an organizer of instant messaging” was introduced into the legal field, as well as the obligation to register such services with Roskomnadzor as organizers of information dissemination and a ban on the transmission of electronic messages by unidentified users.

Effective May 5 Government resolution “On approval of the Rules for identifying users of the Internet information and telecommunications network by the organizer of the instant messaging service.”

Companies that own instant messengers will have to interact with regional telecom operators and register users only by phone number, checking it against the telecom operators’ database. In addition, messengers are required to store an archive of user communication records for six months, limit the distribution of information prohibited by law, and ensure the distribution of messages at the request of authorities. And cellular operators will save unique identifiers of messengers used by subscribers.

While the mechanism has not begun full operation, questions remain. Will all messengers follow these rules? Will it be possible to register with a SIM card purchased without a passport? Is communication allowed in Russia through an account registered to a foreign phone number? In other words: will the new legislative initiative be able to stop the activities of deliberate criminals using methods to bypass control, or will it be aimed at mass control over citizens?

By the way, recently the State Duma adopted amendments to the Federal Laws “On Communications” and “On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection,” which should ensure autonomy or the so-called isolation of Runet.

Source: 3dnews.ru