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Russian PM approves messenger user identification by phone number

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree introducing messenger user identification by phone number

© Donat Sorokin/TASS

MOSCOW, November 6. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree introducing messenger user identification by phone number. The decree has been published on the government’s website containing legal information and will take effect in six months.

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According to the document, messaging services will now have to verify registration data through mobile operators who are obliged to provide subscriber information within 20 minutes upon receiving a request from a messenger. In the event that a mobile operator fails to provide user information within the specified timeframe or cites a lack of such information, the identification will be considered invalid.

Mobile operators will be obliged to include information about the apps their subscribers use into their databases, as well as users’ unique identification codes. In addition, mobile operators will also have to inform messengers’ administration within 24 hours in case a contract with a user is terminated. After that, the user will have to be re-identified in the messaging service.

Head of Russia’s media watchdog Alexander Zharov told Izvestia that the new rules would facilitate the investigative activities of law enforcement agencies. According to Zharov, arranging cooperation between mobile operators and messaging services will not require great financial resources.

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