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Report: Russia’s FSB Tells Banks to Install SORM and Store App Chats by 2027

The reported directive treats banks as information distributors already applied to some apps since 2019, a status that triggers data‑retention duties with security‑service access.

Overview

  • RBC reported, without citing an official source, that the FSB has told credit institutions to enable law‑enforcement access to communications and app data.
  • The measure would require banks to deploy SORM hardware‑software systems by 2027 to allow remote retrieval of client information.
  • The rationale cited is banks’ designation as organizers of information dissemination due to messaging features in websites and mobile apps.
  • Services such as Sberbank Online, T‑Bank, Yandex Bank, and Promsvyazbank have been on the information‑distributor registry since 2019, according to the report.
  • SORM vendors told RBC they see rising implementation interest, large banks offered no comment, and civil‑liberties groups highlight obligations to retain metadata for a year, content for six months, provide data to the FSB, and face fines up to 5 million rubles for noncompliance.