Providers are now obliged to store data on geolocation and payment methods
Russian providers have expanded the list of user data they are required to store for 3 years. The list now includes data on geolocation and payment methods. If necessary, this data must be provided to law enforcement agencies. The corresponding resolution came into force on March 30.
Enhancing efficiency
The document was authored by the FSB. The explanatory note to the bill noted that the absence of a legally established obligation to store data and provide it to law enforcement agencies reduces the effectiveness of operational search measures and negatively affects the country’s security.
Thus, hundreds of Russian internet companies, including major platforms such as Yandex, VKontakte, and others, are now required to store additional information about their users.
Andrey Svintsov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Technologies, and Communications, explained that the new measures will enable faster detection and even prevention of crimes.
Yarovaya Bill and Innovations
Earlier, similar anti-terrorism amendments to the law were introduced by Irina Yarovaya. Her bill was named the “Yarovaya Package.” It was signed in 2016 and came into force in 2018. However, at that time, the requirements for storing additional information applied only to communication operators and internet companies, including social networks. This law did not apply to providers.
In September 2023, provisions came into force requiring providers to store user correspondence, attached files, information about the sender, recipient, and time of message delivery, as well as text, voice messages, sound, visual, and other types of files for 3 years. Now, this list has been expanded to include data on geolocation and payment methods.