russia Putting Digital Collars on Migrants

For years, the kremlin has cynically tried to convince the public that the state respects privacy and “doesn’t spy on anyone”. However, yet another decision by the ministry of internal affairs of the rf refutes this – migrants will be required to purchase cell phones with an electronic profile. The direct and sole purpose of this new measure is total control and round-the-clock tracking of the geolocation of every person entering the country.

The introduction of mandatory devices for monitoring foreigners clearly demonstrates that russian secret services already have a ready-made and well-established infrastructure for mass surveillance of people. If the repressive apparatus is capable of monitoring the movements of millions of visitors in real time, then all citizens of the rf are also under the same covert surveillance. russia’s authorities have long been collecting geolocation data on their own citizens through state-controlled mobile operators and domestic software; migrants have simply become the first group for whom this practice is being enshrined in law, with no attempt to conceal the totalitarian nature of the system.

This technological concentration camp is already being tested at full capacity in moscow and moscow region using the “amina” mobile app. Foreigners are forced to keep geolocation tracking turned on at all times. If the app fails to transmit coordinates for at least three days, the person is automatically added to the so-called registry of monitored individuals. The consequences are immediate and severe: bank cards are blocked, all financial transactions are prohibited, and deportation is inevitable. russian officials hypocritically call this “care”, although in reality it is nothing else but a digital collar.

In parallel, the state duma of the rf has significantly tightened legislation, turning foreign workers’ stay into a struggle for survival under constant pressure. From now on, tax authorities will automatically forward information on migrants’ earnings to the ministry of internal affairs every three months, while migrants themselves are required to report their income annually through tax returns. Any deviation from the criteria (insufficient length of employment for the year or income below the subsistence minimum) leads to the immediate revocation of a residence permit or ID card. Migrants are given only 15 days to pack their belongings and leave the country with their families.

These repressive measures also severely affect the children of foreigners, demonstrating the complete absence of any humanitarian principles in russia’s policy. Minors may remain in russia only for the duration of their parents’ work permit. Immediately upon turning 18, the children of migrants are required to either apply for their own work permit immediately or leave the territory of the rf within one month.