The State Duma told about the work of the self-lock on calls from abroad in the Russian Federation from March 1.

From March 1, 2027, residents of Russia will be able to block incoming calls from abroad through the Gosuslugi portal or the MFC. The innovation is aimed at combating phone fraud. This was announced on November 8 by Anton Nemkin, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Digital Development and Artificial Intelligence, federal coordinator of the Digital Russia project of the United Russia party.

"Starting from March 1, 2027, Russians will be able to self-lock incoming calls from abroad through Gosuslugi or MFC. It is crucial that the decision is made by the subscriber himself. This is not a total ban on international communications, but an additional opportunity for those who do not need such calls and who want to reduce potential risks," he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The MP stressed that the procedure for installing and lifting the ban should be as simple and understandable as possible for all users, regardless of their level of digital technology proficiency. The innovation will be particularly beneficial for the elderly and other categories of citizens who are most at risk of telephone fraud.

Nemkin noted that scammers often pose as representatives of banks, law enforcement agencies and government agencies, putting pressure on potential victims and forcing them to act hastily. In his opinion, limiting incoming international calls will help reduce the number of such fraudulent contacts.

He also noted that such a measure does not provide complete protection from scammers and does not eliminate the need to remain vigilant, since attackers can contact victims from Russian numbers and through other means of communication.

According to the parliamentarian, the state and telecom operators should not only introduce a new mechanism, but also ensure its effective operation. Citizens need to be told which calls will be blocked and in which situations the restriction may prevent them from receiving regular calls, so that users understand in advance the possible consequences of connecting it.

Nemkin believes that a ban on international calls will become an additional measure of protection, however, an integrated approach is needed to effectively combat telephone scams, including improving legislation, the work of telecom operators and increasing digital literacy of citizens.

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