New Laws Taking Effect on December 1
On December 1, several laws and regulations come into force in Russia that directly or indirectly affect the internet and digital technologies. Here’s an overview of the key changes:
Requirement to Install Technical Threat Countermeasures (TSPU)
One of the provisions of Federal Law No. 319-FZ, adopted in July 2021, takes effect. According to this law, telecom operators are required to install technical threat countermeasures (TSPU) only on communication equipment that provides data transfer to user devices at speeds exceeding ten gigabits per second.
“Accessible Internet” Comes into Force, but Socially Significant Sites Not Yet Defined
Free access will be provided to socially significant websites. This list will include websites of government agencies, local authorities, state extra-budgetary funds of the Russian Federation, and the State Services Portal.
Before the law took effect, the Ministry of Digital Development updated the requirements for socially significant websites, allowing them to transmit video even with free access. However, video may be transmitted in low resolution, and the ability to make calls or send audio and video messages is prohibited. The government has not yet established the final list of such sites or the criteria for adding new ones. However, since April of last year, operators have already been providing free access to a number of sites—including the State Services Portal and government agency websites—as part of an experiment.
Combating Financial Pyramids
Pre-trial blocking of websites that advertise financial pyramids, mislead users due to similar domain names, design, or content with legitimate financial organizations, or offer financial services by unauthorized individuals is being introduced. At the request of the Central Bank, fraudulent websites will be shut down without a court order.
This bill was originally developed in 2018 but was adopted later, during the pandemic, when online scammers became especially active. According to the Central Bank, about 45% of illegal financial pyramids operate online.
“Through the Prosecutor General’s Office, it is now possible to block websites that contain information about services provided by individuals who are not authorized to offer them in Russia, as well as those that advertise or create conditions for involving people in financial pyramids,” said Andrey Borisenko, Deputy Director of the Legal Department of the Bank of Russia.
Border Communication Lines Under Russian Control
Starting December 1, only Russian legal entities can own or otherwise possess communication lines that cross the state border of the Russian Federation.
Additionally, telecom operators are required to verify information about corporate subscribers in the Unified Identification and Authentication System, as entered by legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.
In early November, the Ministry of Digital Development prepared a draft government decree to create a registry of communication lines crossing the country’s border. Communication equipment connected to such lines will also be included in the registry. Roskomnadzor is proposed as the operator of this registry.