Putin signs into law bill compelling owners of Telegram channels with 10,000+ audience to register with media regulator
MOSCOW. Aug 9 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill regulating the operation of instant messaging services, including Telegram channels, into law.
The respective document was published on the official website of legal information on Thursday.
According to the law, the owners of Telegram channel owners with an audience over 10,000 will have to report data on themselves to the Russian telecoms watchdog Roskomnadzor in a form and scope determined by the government. The law bans any channel out of Roskomnadzor's 10,000+ list to post advertising, distribute information about the possible funding of the channel and its owners, while other Telegram channels cannot repost its messages.
The law also regulates relationships between wireless providers and subscribers, including foreign nationals and stateless persons, when services are provided.
According to the law, a Russian citizen cannot have more than 20 SIM cards, while a foreigner can have no more than 10 SIM cards, including corporate ones.
The law specifies that wireless providers will use the Unified Identification and Authentication System, the Unified Biometric System, and the Interior Ministry's interdepartmental electronic interaction systems or confirm passport data of a subscriber with organizations determined by the government.
The law stipulates that a contract with a foreigner may be concluded only in person, not online and only if he has an entry on the Unified Biometric System. The contract shall contain the IMEI number of a device that will be used with the SIM card. These requirements shall not apply to diplomatic staff or their family members, the law said.
Following verification procedures, a wireless provider shall forward data to Roskomnadzor's State Information System for Controlling SIM Cards.
According to the law, an individual may request data about all SIM cards from the State Information System for Controlling SIM Cards using the Public Services website. If an individual disagrees with a designation of a SIM card to him, he should ask the wireless provider to immediately suspend providing services, the law said.
According to the law, the Russian government will set requirements for premises and places where a contract on providing telecommunication services may be concluded. In addition, companies and individual entrepreneurs may give SIM cards only to individuals working for them under a contract. All data about employees shall be submitted to the Unified Identification and Authentication System, the law said.
Cash payments for telecommunication services may be made only after the payer's ID is verified at bank or post offices, or tether organizations designated by the government, as well as through specially equipped terminals complying with requirements set by the government, the law said.
Wireless providers shall bring all contracts signed with foreign nationals into compliance with the new law before July 1, 2025, otherwise cellular services are not provided to foreigners, it said.
Wireless providers shall verify data about Russian individual and corporate subscribers, as well as the number of SIM cards, before November 1, 2025 and stop providing services if violations are exposed, it said.
The Russian government may introduce specific rules regulating the application of the new law in new Russian regions and in border areas for the period until 2030, the law said.
The bill amends the Federal Law on Communications and certain legislative acts, it said.