A draft amendment to Russia’s Code of Administrative Offenses will raise penalties for leaking personal data and is slated to take effect on December 4. This update was reported by TASS and forms part of a broader package under consideration by the State Duma.
The bill package is expected to be submitted to the parliament on Monday. The changes touch both the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code, signaling a tougher stance on data privacy violations and related offenses.
Earlier remarks from Deputy Alexander Khinshtein touched on the use of virtual private networks. He indicated that VPN usage remains a personal choice and described VPNs as tools that can spoof networks and bypass borders. He also warned that many VPN services collect users’ personal data and may share it with third parties. He admitted that he had previously avoided VPN use, viewing it as something akin to contraband.
In September Khinshtein suggested that banning VPN services outright would be impractical, but he emphasized the importance of informing the public about the risks associated with their use. The discussion reflects a balancing act between maintaining digital privacy and addressing security concerns within the country’s regulatory framework.
Public conversations about VPN reliability and privacy are ongoing as Russian users report various operational challenges with VPN services. These discussions underscore a broader effort to clarify the legal landscape for data protection while ensuring that users are aware of potential privacy tradeoffs and the implications for digital communications within Russia.