Maxim Ali has criticised the bill that will introduce additional responsibilities for email services

A draft amendment has been submitted to the State Duma that will introduction a single concept for email services and instant messengers in federal law. The amendments also include the extension to email services of the restrictions, duties and responsibilities currently in force with respect to instant messengers. Among the possible innovations are obligations to identify users by phone numbers, as well as to quickly block specific users at the request of Roskomnadzor.

According to Maxim Ali, Head of IP/IT Maxima Legal Practice, the initiative is questionable. “[For the sponsors of the bill] it is assumed that the identification of users of email services will provide more opportunities to hold people accountable for sending out messages about planned attacks. However, such messages can be sent, including from foreign services that do not consider themselves bound by Russian law (even if the pages of these mail services are blocked), or using accounts created with false mobile numbers. Do not forget about the existence of “one-time” email addresses. Therefore, it is unlikely that a formal identification obligation will stop the attackers”, Maxim Ali explained to Advokatskaya Gazeta. Maxim also emphasised that “the law should not provide executive authorities with such wide powers to send requirements to restrict individuals’ use modern means of communication, especially without a court decision and on vague grounds.”

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