Russia's Ministry of Digital Development has published draft regulations that would give the government broad authority to ban or restrict foreign AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.

What the Rules Say

The proposed rules target AI platforms with more than 500,000 daily users in Russia. Under the draft, these services must store Russian users' data inside the country for three years. Foreign platforms that refuse — as Western companies have historically done with similar Russian data-localization demands — could face full access restrictions by 2027.

The rules state that "the operation of cross-border artificial intelligence technologies may be prohibited or restricted in cases specified by the legislation of the Russian Federation," giving Moscow sweeping powers over the emerging sector.

Digital Sovereignty Push

The Ministry framed the move as protecting citizens from "hidden manipulation and discriminatory algorithms" and preserving "traditional Russian spiritual and moral values." The initiative is part of Russia's ongoing effort to build a sovereign internet insulated from foreign influence.

Chinese open-source models adapted to run on local infrastructure would likely remain accessible, as they could meet data-localization requirements more easily. Russian-built platforms from Yandex and Sberbank are positioned as domestic alternatives.

Industry Impact

Western AI companies — OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic — have previously declined to comply with Russia's data localization laws. If the rules take effect as proposed, millions of Russian users could lose access to the leading Western AI tools. The regulations are expected to complete their review process and come into force in 2027.