Russia Proposes Mandatory Phone Number Binding for Foreign Websites

The Ministry of Digital Development in Russia has proposed new measures to combat fraud, known as 'Anti-fraud 3.0'. One of the key provisions is that foreign websites and apps operating in Russia must authenticate users within the country using only a phone number. This requirement would apply to websites freely operating in Russia and users located within the country. Additionally, foreign websites would need to store registration, authentication, and account deletion data for three years and provide it to law enforcement upon request. Experts note that these requirements may pose challenges for foreign platforms and international companies.