Russian Federation

[RU] New rules for telecom sector

IRIS 2016-8:1/31

Andrei Richter

Comenius University (Bratislava)

The State Duma (parliament) of the Russian Federation adopted on 24 June 2016 a set of amendments to the Federal Law “On Counteraction to Terrorism” (See IRIS 2006-5:19/33) and other laws that shall affect telecom sector in Russia. The President signed the amendments into law on 6 July 2016.

Among other things, the law makes additions to the 2003 Federal Statute “On Communications” and to the Federal Law “On Information, Information Technologies and Protection of Information” (see IRIS 2014-3/40 and IRIS 2014-6/31), adding requirements for Internet and telecom providers to store (in Russia) for six months recordings of all text, voice, graphic, sound, video and any other messages belonging to their customers. In addition, the law requires telecom providers to store all metadata for at least three years, and ISPs - for at least one year (Article 13 and 15 of the amendments). Russia’s Security Services shall have remote access to this information (Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the amendments). ISP shall also provide possibilities for deciphering all encoded electronic messages to the Federal Security Service (FSB) (Article 15).

Article 11 of the new law amends the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offences by adding administrative fines of up to 1 million roubles (approximately EUR 14,300) for violating of these provisions.