Overview
- Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development announced a separate SIM category for minors that will be issued with parental consent and allow parents to obtain geotracks without judicial approval.
- State Duma figures and the Public Chamber publicly backed the plan, with officials describing the new cards as a distinct legal regime for users up to age 14.
- The ministry and lawmakers stressed voluntariness, with parents choosing to connect a child and operators expected to provide defined service packages on request.
- Supporters argue the change removes procedural delays that now require law‑enforcement requests, enabling faster action during the first critical hours of child searches.
- Proposals include free access to selected educational and government services even at zero balance, limits on logging into age‑restricted social networks, and possible future safeguards against harmful content, crypto investments, and illegal gambling.