Alim Bishenov, Managing Partner, BMS Law Firm:

This legislative initiative is really weird. First, the working is unreasonably broad, and the identification requirement will be able to be submitted to all Internet resources where there are chat rooms. Second, the emphasis is made on online games, and many of them already involve identification via social media accounts which are attached to their holder’s telephone number. Thus, the requirement is excessive and is of no practical benefit.

It is also questionable whether online game producers will comply with the requirement to identify their users. Many of them will most likely ignore the requirement of the Russian authorities.