Russian Government Orders ISPs to Hand Over Names of VPN Users

Russia's internet regulator, Roskomnadzor (RKN), has issued a directive requiring Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to supply information that could identify users accessing blocked content via VPNs.

The controversial move, part of a broader effort to control digital traffic and combat unauthorized access to restricted sites, has sparked debates over privacy and operational feasibility.

The draft order, published on regulation.gov.ru and reported by Vedomosti, mandates ISPs to provide network-level data, such as IP addresses and device identifiers. While RKN insists this information will not include personal details about users' devices, privacy advocates and experts remain skeptical. The order aligns with amendments to Russia's 2019 information technology laws, particularly those targeting content deemed harmful or offensive under federal legislation 216-FZ.

ISPs will also need to ensure compliance through technical filtering mechanisms, known as TSPU (Technical Means of Countering Threats), which have been mandatory since 2019. RKN expects the system to monitor user traffic continuously and provide data automatically. Operators must begin compliance within three months of the order's enforcement and report user activity in real-time.

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