OREANDA-NEWS Roskomnadzor (RCN) uses an information system that automatically verifies the reliability of data on subscribers of Russian telecom operators. Since 2018, as a result of joint raids with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the department has managed to withdraw more than 423,000 gray SIM cards from use, the press service of the RCNC told TASS on Friday. As explained in the department, according to the law "On Communications", the mobile operator is obliged to independently verify the accuracy of information about the subscriber before the provision of services. This requirement has been in effect since 2018, and Roskomnadzor must monitor the reliability of information about subscribers entered by telecom operators into their databases.

"For this purpose, the agency has developed a special information system that automatically monitors the reliability of such data. In case of identifying false information, the telecom operator is obliged to clarify or terminate the provision of services to the subscriber," the RCN said.

Control measures to curb the illegal sale of SIM cards of mobile operators are held in Russia regularly - Roskomnadzor conducts them jointly with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to the RCN, since 2018, more than 423 thousand gray SIM cards have been seized during such raids, 152 thousand of them in 2022. "The identification of gray SIM cards with the help of an automatic monitoring system for the reliability of information about subscribers and their operational blocking will make the mobile communications market in Russia more transparent, as well as prevent criminal activity carried out using SIM cards," the supervisory authority believes.