During a roundtable organized by the Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building of the Federation Council, experts examined the legal dimensions of introducing electronic driver’s licenses in Russia. Lawyers and researchers voiced worries about protecting drivers’ personal data as the system moves toward digital credentials. The event was convened at the initiative of Alexander Bashkin, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on State Construction of the Federation Council.
The central issue, officials noted, is the security of personal data. A representative highlighted that current public services portals do not meet robust security standards and could be vulnerable to attacks that have occurred in the past. Natalya Zhirnova, an associate professor in the Department of Digital Technologies and Biology at the Faculty of Law, underscored these concerns, recalling lessons from a related program discussed at a 2019–2021 Higher School of Economics forum in Australia.
There have been incidents where attackers gained access to and altered digital records of driver’s licenses, underscoring the real risk involved in digital identity projects.
Oksana Shevchuk, an associate professor in the Department of Administrative, Financial and Information Law at the State University of Justice, stressed the need for rigorous security measures to prevent unauthorized access or damage to data when digital identities are rolled out.
Official statements from the Ministry of Digital Development explained that the QR codes for driver’s licenses, accessible through the State Services Auto application, contain the holder’s photo, license details, vehicle documents, and are authenticated by the ministry’s electronic signature or by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. These assurances aim to establish a chain of trust around the new digital identifiers.
There is also a broader context in which automakers and dealerships in Russia have faced legal action related to digital identity tools. For instance, Renault has taken steps to pursue court action in connection with the ongoing digitalization efforts affecting the automotive sector.