Russia Proposes Mandatory Phone Number Verification for Messenger Apps
According to Izvestia, a draft resolution has been prepared in Russia to establish new rules for verifying messenger app users. The main idea is that mobile network operators will be required to record which apps their customers use for communication. This information will be provided to them by the “service organizers,” meaning the developers of messenger apps.
Essentially, messenger operators will need to verify that a user’s phone number actually belongs to them. A verification request will be sent to the mobile operator, who will have 20 minutes to respond. If the user’s data matches the information in the company’s database, the identification will be considered successful. In this case, mobile operators must note that the subscriber is using a particular messenger app. Additionally, companies will enter unique identification codes assigned to users by the messengers into their databases.
If the mobile operator reports that there is no such client in their database, the identification will be considered unsuccessful, and the service must deny access to the user. The same applies if no response is received within 20 minutes.
“The possibility of anonymous communication in messengers complicates the work of law enforcement agencies when investigating crimes. The current government resolution is a necessary step toward creating a safe communication environment for both citizens and the state as a whole,” said Alexander Zharov, head of Roskomnadzor, in an interview. “A messenger is a private communication zone where, nevertheless, strangers can find you and start a conversation. In such interactions, it’s important for each of us to understand who is really on the other end. When messengers allow anonymous registration, they become a favorable environment for various unpleasant and unsafe phenomena—such as intrusive advertising, mass distribution of false information, and different types of fraud.”
Zharov noted that currently, messenger authorization is done via a code received in an SMS message, which means it’s possible to create an account with a number that doesn’t belong to you. He emphasized that failure to comply with the new rules will result in administrative penalties for messenger app owners.
Furthermore, Zharov stated that mobile operators and app developers should not face any technical difficulties in implementing the requirements of the resolution. MTS’s press service confirmed Zharov’s statement, noting that while some technical adjustments will be needed, it is possible to respond to messenger verification requests within 20 minutes.
However, it remains unclear how the new system will handle foreigners and their SIM cards within Russia. Experts interviewed by the publication expressed concerns that such measures could simply lead to a surge in sales of foreign SIM cards, and that foreign services—which often already ignore Russian laws—are unlikely to be deterred by administrative penalties.