In Russia, recent radical policy changes have shaken the digital world. Following an influx of anti-Western legislative proposals in the wake of its February invasion of Ukraine, the nation seems poised for a revolutionary overhaul of its online services landscape. Russia is introducing restrictions echoing the infamous “Great Firewall” of China. With new regulations aimed at the complete obliteration of online anonymity and privacy, this development marks yet another blow to free speech and open internet.
In a move that appears to be a step towards an autocratic internet environment, the Russian government has declared war on online freedom by turning plans to abolish user anonymity into reality. Federal Law No. 406-FZ, sanctioned on July 31 2023 with President Putin’s approval, signals a new era in Russian cyber law and a clear move to punish those championing free speech.
We obtained a copy of the law for you here.
The law demands proof of user identification before they can use Russian online platforms. Foreign email systems such as Gmail and Apple are set to be banned, paving the way for stringent measures expected to be rolled out by Christmas this year.
Providing top-of-the-line customer service will now involve verifying a user’s exact identity through a government-approved method.
With VPN users still allowed, despite the draconian measures, information encouraging their use for evasion purposes is now criminalized. Internet hosting services in Russia have also come under the government’s scanner, with demands for state registration and adherence to stringent guidelines.
Consequently, Russia’s move to strip away anonymity from its portion of the internet carries profound implications for internet freedom. The successful imposition of these new rules could instigate a troubling global trend of governments dismantling online privacy.
New regulations redefine the concept of “providing computing power” for placing information on a permanently internet-connected system.
The new first-of-its-kind law mandates hosting companies to positively identify potential customers using state-approved procedures. The companies also bear considerable responsibility for content hosted on their platforms. Besides, hosting companies can only conduct their operations with explicit state permission, which seems to run contrary to the global spirit of a free and open internet.
By September 2024, public entities will only be allowed to use the “computing power” and “information systems” of companies listed on the state-managed register.
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