Government Consents Financial Penalties for Disclosing Personal Phone Numbers to Unauthorized Persons (Regarding Vladimir Putin)
Changes to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which came into force on June 1, aim to combat illegal activities related to the transfer of phone numbers and the registration information of mobile users. These amendments introduce administrative liability for breaches in providing mobile radiotelephone services to foreigners, as well as the illegal transfer of phone numbers and user data.
The new amendments target operators and their representatives, who may face fines for violating rules regarding the sale and registration of SIM cards, particularly in connection to foreign subscribers and stateless persons. Fines for legal entities can reach up to 2 million rubles, while officials can be fined up to 200,000 rubles.
The amendments have added a new Article 13.29(6) to the Code, which specifically introduces responsibility for breaches in providing mobile radiotelephone services to foreigners, enforced by officials from Roskomnadzor, who can draw up protocols and review cases of such administrative offenses.
The focus of these amendments is to combat the use of SIM cards and mobile numbers for illegal activities, including fraud, which has been a growing concern leading to free and illegal transfers or misuse of phone numbers and user data.
The implications of these amendments are significant for both telecom providers and users. For operators, there is increased responsibility to verify user registration information accurately and comply strictly with regulations on number transfers, especially for foreign users, which may require more robust identity checks and reporting mechanisms. For foreign subscribers and stateless persons, the amendments impose clearer regulatory controls over their access to mobile services, requiring compliance with established registration rules and potentially limiting anonymous or illicit use.
Empowering Roskomnadzor officials to enforce these rules enhances governmental control over telecom compliance, aiming to reduce fraud and illegal number transfers. The State Duma committee on information policy is involved in the implementation of these amendments.
The law, signed by Vladimir Putin, allows a subscriber to only transfer a number to family members and close relatives. The ban on transferring SIM cards to third parties was introduced by amendments to the law "On Communications" on April 1. The amendments were submitted to the State Duma on July 14, and the State Duma adopted the law on July 22, with the Federation Council approving it on July 25.
The new regulations are part of the law on fines in the transport and communication spheres. The amendments also affect Article 13.29.2, imposing fines for transferring information necessary for user registration or authorization on the internet. Fines will not be imposed if the third party uses the resources with the consent of the data owner or on their behalf.
The maximum fine for individuals is 50,000 rubles, for individual entrepreneurs is 100,000 rubles, and for legal entities is 200,000 rubles. Sergei Boyarsky, the head of the State Duma committee on information policy, explained that it is possible to transfer phone numbers within one's family.
The amendments are aimed at protecting society from harm, and Boyarsky warned against giving numbers to strangers or untrusted individuals, stating that deputies are fighting against scammers and criminals. The focus of these amendments is to combat illegal activities and protect society. Temporary, free transfer for personal use will not be considered an administrative offense.
The amendments in the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation target not only telecom operators but also extend to the business sector, as fines up to 2 million rubles for legal entities could be imposed for violations related to the registration of foreign subscribers and stateless persons. The new regulations, aimed at combating illegal activities, also affect the general-news domain, as they cover the transfer of user registration or authorization information online, and carry penalties of up to 200,000 rubles for officials involved. In politics, these amendments indicate a strengthened governmental control over telecom compliance, with Roskomnadzor officials being empowered to enforce these rules and the State Duma committee on information policy playing a significant role in their implementation. These changes have implications beyond the telecom sector, highlighting the intersection of finance, business, politics, and general-news.
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