Apple and Microsoft have been added to Russia's register of “organizers of information dissemination,” or ORI, maintained by the communications regulator Roskomnadzor. The Telegram channel Tech Talk noticed the entries, which drew wider attention on October 28. The registry lists October 2, 2026, as the date of inclusion.
The register covers internet services that enable the exchange of electronic messages. Russian legislation attaches obligations to the status, including storing certain user information and communications and providing data in response to legally authorized requests. The rules can apply to both message contents and technical communication records.
Since 2018, services covered by the legislation have faced expanded data-retention requirements. In 2024, Roskomnadzor gained additional powers to add organizations to the register without a voluntary application in circumstances specified by law.
An entry in the register is not the same as proof that a company is actively cooperating with Russian security agencies. Apple and Microsoft's inclusion does not itself demonstrate that either company has begun handing over messages, complied with the requests or accepted the regulator's decision.
The development extends Russia's regulatory claims over online communications to two major foreign technology providers. Failure to meet ORI requirements can result in fines and other enforcement measures, including possible restrictions on services inside Russia.