Russia Eyes SIM Bans for Users Blocked in Max Messenger

Russia's Ministry of Digital Development could start blocking all SIM cards belonging to a user whose account in the Max messenger is banned for fraud. The person might also be barred from buying a new SIM card for a certain period. Minister Maksut Shadaev outlined the idea at the plenary session of Kazan Digital Week.

Blocking at the carrier level

According to Shadaev, the messenger already detects fraud cases and blocks the account, so the offender can no longer use that phone number inside the app. The ministry wants to go further and block the number at the mobile operator level. In his words, this should apply not only to the SIM card involved but to all SIM cards registered to the same owner.

Shadaev said Max's base key would make this possible. If a fraudster's SIM card is identified, the card itself should be blocked, and a "cooling-off period" may be introduced during which the person cannot register new SIM cards. He described this as something the country's "sovereign platform" makes possible.

Part of a wider anti-fraud push

The proposal fits into a broader set of measures against telephone fraud. In July, media reported that the ministry planned, under the "Antifraud 3.0" bill, to ban the sale of SIM cards with money already on the balance. All operators would have to sell SIM cards with a zero balance, and a subscriber could top up the account only after signing a contract with the operator.

The remarks were a statement of intent rather than an adopted rule. No legal text, timeline or criteria for what counts as fraud were given, and it is unclear how users could contest a wrongful block. The scheme would tie a person's mobile service directly to their standing in a single messaging platform, which is likely to draw questions about proportionality and appeals.

For now, the ministry has not said when any such mechanism could take effect.