Putin signed a law establishing a state database of all Russians' cell phones
On Friday, June 26, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a law amending the federal law “On Communications,” which provides for the creation in Russia of a state database of unique mobile device numbers (IMEI) assigned by manufacturers.
According to the document published on the legal information portal, the database will include information on user equipment identifiers that are “permitted and prohibited” for use in Russia. The database will be populated by telecommunications operators and government agencies designated by the government, and is scheduled to become operational on March 1, 2027.
The unique numbers of smartphones and tablets will be linked to SIM cards, and devices that do not pass the identification procedure will be disconnected from the network, sources in the telecom market familiar with the plans of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media previously told the pro-government publication *Kommersant*.
As a reminder, in several regions of Russia, the Max messaging app blocked chats where users were exchanging information about gasoline availability, lines at gas stations, and places where they could fill up their cars.
A resident of Kuzbass was fined for sharing a video critical of Putin on the Max messaging app.
