Russia drafts rules requiring foreign websites to authorize Russian users by phone number

Russia’s Digital Development Ministry has drafted amendments that would require foreign websites and apps to authorize Russian users solely through their phone numbers, the Russian business daily Vedomosti reported, citing the draft document.The changes would amend a section of the law “On Information” that spells out which authorization methods website owners can use for users in Russia. The law currently lists four options: phone number, two state authorization systems, and “another information system that ensures user authorization on websites.”Foreign websites would also be required to store data on account registration, authorization, and deletion for three years and hand it over to law enforcement agencies on request.The proposals are part of a draft third package of anti-fraud measures known as “Antifraud 3.0,” which the Digital Development Ministry has sent to relevant government agencies for review. A ministry spokesperson told Vedomosti the package is still under discussion and it’s too early to say which measures will make it into the final version.Experts told Vedomosti the requirements could prove difficult for foreign platforms to meet, since compliance would effectively mean connecting to Russia’s System for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM). International companies are also often reluctant to build a separate authorization system just for Russian users, a group that would first have to be singled out from everyone else.Russia has already adopted two packages of restrictive measures called “Antifraud” since 2025 as part of its effort to combat phone fraud. Under these measures, people gained the ability to block incoming international calls themselves, and the number of bank cards a single person can obtain was limited. The anti-fraud laws also call for creating a unified database of unique phone identifiers (IMEI).At Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication.If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at [email protected].To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.