Starting July 1, 2020, it will be mandatory for Russian software to be preinstalled on certain consumer electronic devices offered for sale in Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the corresponding amendments to the Russian Consumer Protection Law on December 2. The amendments cover electronic devices with preinstalled software and mandate that such devices contain preinstalled Russian software as of July 1, 2020. Following the enactment of the bill, the Russian government will determine a list of affected devices, as well as a list of the Russian software to be preinstalled and the rules of its preinstallation. It is expected that the affected devices will include smartphones, computers, and smart TVs.
Russian lawmakers are also considering introducing penalties for noncompliance with this new rule. If approved, starting from January 1, 2021, violations could result in administrative fines ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 Russian rubles (approximately $784 to $3,134).