Operators will be allowed not to store calls and messages from subscribers

An item obliging mobile operators to store messages and the content of calls from subscribers for three years will be removed from the package of anti-terrorist bills, Interfax reports citing the author of the amendments, Senator Lyudmila Bokova.

According to the changes, operators will have to store data only about the facts of calls and messages.

Previously, experts said that along with the content of calls, operators would have to store a total of 1.7 billion terabytes of data. The cost of equipment needed to store such a volume of information will be about 70 billion rubles. ($1.1 billion). According to the operators, these costs will "many times exceed the annual revenue" of the companies.

In early May, the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption recommended the first reading of a new package of anti-terrorism bills submitted by MP Irina Yarovaya and Federation Council member Viktor Ozerov.

In particular, the draft law proposes to introduce into the Criminal Code the concept of "international terrorism" - "commission outside the territory of Russia of an explosion, arson or other actions endangering the life, health, freedom or inviolability of Russian citizens." For example, financing of international terrorism will be punishable by imprisonment for a term of 10 to 15 years. The age limit for intentional terrorist crimes is proposed to be lowered to 14 years.

The deputies also proposed obliging telecom operators to keep records of conversations, text messages and images in Russia for three years and provide them to special services upon request.

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption Irina Yarovaya submitted this bill to the State Duma in early April.