In Russia, the fight against “fraudsters” has become a favored pretext for tightening digital legislation. Some of the new measures are genuinely aimed at cybercrime, but others seem designed to expand the state’s repressive apparatus, Meduza points out in an analysis. After banning voice and video calls on Telegram and WhatsApp – which deprived millions of Russians of their preferred communication channels -, the government is preparing a new series of restrictions. The Ministry of Digital Development has presented a new package of draft laws targeting alleged telephone and Internet fraud. However, Meduza notes that some of the proposals range from new restrictions imposed on citizens, to exceptions that allow targeting the state’s enemies.
A centralized database with all mobile phone identifiers
The new amendments proposed to Russia’s federal law “on communications” provide for the creation of a unified database with mobile device identifiers:
- The database with end-user device identifiers – a computer system managed by a mobile telecommunications operator that contains data on the identifiers of end-user devices, registered at the registration of a subscriber’s device for mobile telecommunications services;
- The central database of end-user device identifiers – a computer system that contains data from databases with identifiers managed by mobile telecommunications operators, as well as information on end-user devices authorized or prohibited for use in mobile telecommunications networks in the Russian Federation.
The identifiers in question are most likely IMEI numbers (i.e. international mobile equipment identification numbers). Each telecommunications operator will compile its own database and transfer the information to the central system. The centralized database will be administered by Russia’s federal censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, which will act on behalf of the state as the official holder of the information, Meduza indicates.
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