Bill proposed for discussion in the State Duma aimed at restricting smartphone usage
On June 1, President Vladimir Putin signed a new law aimed at strengthening measures to protect Russian citizens from cyber fraud. The law, which was enforced on July 5, was initiated to prevent thefts and increase penalties for droppers, the perpetrators of over 80% of cybercrimes, which are primarily remote.
One of the key aspects of the law involves mobile operators and the refunding of prepaid funds. The bill seeks to require mobile operators to stop refunding prepaid funds to subscribers if law enforcement suspects they were obtained through criminal activities. This measure is expected to facilitate swift compensation to victims.
The law includes around 30 measures, such as automatic caller ID for organisations, intervals between password changes on "Gosuslugi," bans on calls through messengers for government bodies and banks, and self-imposed bans on spam calls and SMS.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the State Duma speaker, has emphasised the need for this bill, particularly in relation to preventing remote thefts in cybercrime. The bill also aims to help law enforcement in investigating cybercrime.
Notably, the law includes a provision that a person who committed the crime for the first time and is a bank client may be exempt from criminal liability if they assist in its investigation. This is intended to encourage cooperation and transparency in the fight against cyber fraud.
The State Duma is considering a bill next week that is related to these measures. The law does not repeat the measures previously mentioned in the bill, but it is expected to further protect citizens from scammers and increase penalties for droppers. The maximum penalty for droppers is up to six years in prison with a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 rubles.
This new law is part of Russia's ongoing efforts to combat cyber fraud and ensure the safety of its citizens in the digital age. For up-to-date and accurate information, it is recommended to consult official Russian legislative resources or reputable Russian news outlets directly addressing cyber legislation or State Duma announcements.
- The new law, which targets cybersecurity, also encompasses provisions related to technology, such as requiring mobile operators to halt refunding prepaid funds suspected of being obtained through criminal activities in the realm of general-news and crime-and-justice.
- In an effort to tighten the noose on cybercrime, the law incorporates additional measures to be considered by the State Duma next week, aiming to further bolster the protection of Russian citizens from scammers in the digital age, while increasing penalties for droppers under the crime-and-justice sector.
