Russia's Digital Development Ministry has published draft amendments to telecom service rules that would prohibit operators from sending SMS messages used for identification and authentication during registration and login to internet services on SIM cards registered to minors. The only exception would be state information systems, including the Gosuslugi public services portal. The proposal was reported by Forbes, The Insider, and TV Rain.
Mobile operator VimpelCom (Beeline) warned in its feedback that the ban could cover codes from Russian messengers and social networks, including VKontakte and Max. The company estimated this would prevent minors from registering and logging into services where phone number verification is mandatory. The operator noted that messengers are the primary and most rapid channel of communication between parents and children, including for sharing geolocation, photos, and videos.
T2, another operator, supported the concerns and proposed marking SIM cards of users under 18 via the Gosuslugi portal and using this data in the Anti-Fraud state information system and social networks for security. The company also noted that it remains unclear how an operator should act when a user turns 18 or if a subscriber aged 14 to 18 signs a contract with parental consent.
MegaFon said it already uses protective measures for children's SIM cards under the 'Child' role in its MegaFamily service. MTS did not respond to Forbes's request. VimpelCom and VK declined to comment.
The ban itself concerns the delivery of SMS codes, not the direct blocking of websites, apps, or existing accounts. Access could remain possible through an open session, email, or another authorization method if the service supports it. However, registering or logging into an account solely via an SMS code from a child's SIM card would become impossible.
The draft also proposes banning outgoing calls to foreign numbers and incoming calls from foreign operators' networks. Children's SIM cards could not be used in roaming outside Russia, and they would stop receiving mass and advertising mailings. Under an advance payment system, the operator would have to suspend paid services after the balance reaches zero, while preserving the ability to call emergency services.
The restrictions would not automatically apply to all numbers used by minors. A law adopted in June allows an adult subscriber to voluntarily notify the operator about transferring a SIM card to a child. Numbers for which a minor signed a contract with parental consent are also considered children's.
The Big Data Association, which includes Yandex, Sber, Avito, and other large companies, believes such restrictions should be regulated at the federal law level. It warns that the SMS ban could affect not only social networks and messengers but also educational platforms and electronic diaries. The association argues it would be more effective to act at the level of operator tariffs and products.
After the publications, the Digital Development Ministry promised not to restrict children's access to social networks. The ministry stressed that additional protection for a child's SIM card could only be activated at the initiative and with the consent of parents.
If the draft is adopted, the new rules would take effect on March 1, 2027. Russian operators have already restricted the delivery of authorization codes from messengers: in October 2025, they stopped sending some users verification SMS and calls from Telegram and WhatsApp needed to register new accounts. After that, Telegram added login via email and later introduced passwordless passkey authorization without SMS.