In Russia, the identification of gamers by phone number will be introduced

The Russian gaming industry is under attack again. The Security Council of the Russian Federation has ordered the FSB to introduce identification of users of online games by cell phone number. The authorities believe that terrorist attacks can be prepared through game chats.

This is reported by RBC with reference to the minutes of the Security Council meeting.

The order was officially delivered to the Ministry of Communications and the Federal Security Service at the end of October. The introduction of identification will have to take place as an “additional measure to regulate the activities of the organizers of the dissemination of information (ORI) on the Internet.”

By ORI, messengers were originally meant. Since January 1, 2018, they have been obliged to identify users by phone number and transmit this data to the authorities if requested.

Now, ORI will consider any Internet resources that allow users to exchange messages. Including video games.

How exactly the work on interaction with game projects (as well as social networks, which are also now part of the ORI) will be built, the Ministry of Communications and the FSB must decide by June 1, 2018.

Source: RBC