Russian authorities have introduced legislation requiring all foreign nationals in the Moscow region to install a government tracking application on their smartphones. The initiative, announced by State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, aims to strengthen migration control and reduce related violations and crimes.

## Extensive Surveillance Capabilities

The mandatory application will collect and monitor:
– Residence location
– Fingerprints
– Facial photographs
– Real-time geolocation data

Foreign nationals must notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs within three working days of any change in residence. Those who fail to comply with these requirements will be registered as monitored individuals and face deportation. Diplomats and citizens of Belarus are exempt from these measures.

## Constitutional and Practical Concerns

The proposal has drawn criticism from various quarters:
– Roskomsvoboda, a Russian internet freedom observatory, expressed skepticism
– Lawyer Anna Minushkina highlighted violations of constitutional privacy rights under Articles 23 and 24
– Viktor Teplyankov, President of the Uzbek Community in Moscow, described the initiative as “ill-conceived and difficult to implement”
– Andrey Yakimov of PSP Foundation warned that such aggressive surveillance could deter essential labor migrants

## Implementation Timeline

The proposal is still being finalized, with technical and practical challenges to be addressed in upcoming meetings between the Ministry and regional authorities. This surveillance program will operate as a trial until September 2029, with potential expansion to other regions if deemed successful.