Last Wednesday, October 20, the Russian government signed a decree on the mandatory identification of users of instant messengers on the Russian Internet. The new rules will come into force on March 1 next year and will be valid for six years.

There are speculations that all foreign messaging services that refuse to accept the new rules may be blocked in Russia.

Last Wednesday, October 20, the Russian government signed a decree on the mandatory identification of users of instant messengers on the Russian Internet. The new rules will come into force on March 1 next year and will be valid for six years. In the meantime, there are speculations that all foreign messaging services that refuse to accept the new rules may be blocked in Russia.

Messengers who want to continue working in Russia will be required to identify their users. According to the text of the rules, both new and existing users of all instant messengers who will officially work in Russia will have to fill in reliable information about themselves, including a phone number, to pass the check.

Then the messenger by the phone number will have to check the specified information with the mobile operators, with which the administration of the services will have to conclude the appropriate agreements. Telecom operators and the administration of the messenger will have to verify the user's data within 20 minutes. If the information turns out to be incomplete or inaccurate, the messenger should refuse to provide services to the user.

Next steps similar to China will follow soon.