Russian citizens will have to provide a verified phone number in order to access public Wi-Fi, under new legislation.
Laws prohibiting the free use of public wireless networks have created confusion about exactly which networks will be affected and what identification method should be used.
Russian politician Leonid Levin said that laws would require citizens to provide their mobile phone number in order to receive access details for all public wireless networks.
“The law will affect all public spaces (…) Our goal is to make sure that people who use public Wi-Fi are responsible for their online actions and that they do not create additional difficulties for other users,” Levin told the Wall Street Journal.
“The identification process will involve using your mobile phone to receive a code and access Wi-Fi. Since presenting a passport is required to purchase a SIM card in Russia, you will not need to show your passport,” he explained.
