FSB to gain access to copies of Russian organizations' databases from April 1, 2026 - bill

MOSCOW. Dec 15 (Interfax) - The State Duma Security Committee approved a bill at a meeting on Friday allowing agencies of the Federal Security Service (FSB) to receive free access from April 1, 2026 to copies of databases of organizations located in Russia if the information is needed to perform the agency's tasks.

The amendment was introduced by MPs and senators for the second reading of a bill (N974777-8) which during the first reading clarified the validity period of weapon permits.

According to current legislation (article 15 of the federal law on the Federal Security Service), the FSB can receive free access to information systems and databases of state bodies and state extra-budgetary funds. The amendment approved by the committee includes databases belonging to organizations within this scope and allows the FSB to receive copies of them by order of the service's leadership or its territorial bodies.

"The Federal Security Service agencies have the right to receive copies of databases/parts of databases belonging to organizations and containing information necessary for performing the duties assigned to these agencies free of charge. The receipt of the said copies of databases/parts of databases is carried out by order of the head of the federal executive body in the field of security, their deputies or the head of a territorial body of the federal executive body in the field of security. Copies of databases/parts of databases in the use of the Federal Security Service agencies are subject to destruction upon achieving the purposes for which they were obtained," the amendment says.

The document also says that FSB agencies and their officials are held accountable in case of unlawful use of the data, and obtaining copies should not interfere with organizations' lawful economic activity.

Currently, law enforcement agencies' access to organizations' databases is permitted as part of operational and search-related activities, based on court decisions. Separate categories of data can also be provided within special regimes provided for by sectoral legislation, including in the field of communications and when using System of Operative Search Measures (SORM) systems.

The bill is scheduled for consideration at a plenary session of the State Duma on December 18.