🔍 Mediascope to Know Everything About Viewers
The Ministry of Digital Development is preparing a major expansion of the data that online cinemas and social networks must share with the national audience measurement company Mediascope.
Starting September 1, 2026, reports could include users’ phone numbers, detailed viewing histories, and IP addresses.
The government says the measure is needed to assess the effectiveness of investments in “socially significant content.”
Industry players warn that collecting such detailed data — down to phone numbers — borders on privacy intrusion and increases the risk of turnover fines if a data breach occurs.
The ministry estimates that modifying software to meet the new requirements will cost services 3 billion rubles over six years, with experts agreeing that these expenses will inevitably fall on subscribers.
Removing the current 48‑hour limit on user identifiers would allow the government and measurement systems to track individual viewing preferences for years.
Excessive oversight, experts caution, could drive loyal viewers toward pirate platforms, which require no personal data and no AI‑content labeling.
