Now Parents Can Track Every Activity: Russia to Launch Special SIM Cards for Children with Added Safety Features

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a move to enhance child safety and digital monitoring, Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has announced plans to introduce special SIM cards for children. These SIMs will allow parents to track their children’s location and access other safety features without needing a court order.

According to Russian state media agency TASS, the new child-friendly SIM cards will come with traffic filters, advanced parental controls, and automatic geolocation access for parents. The initiative was confirmed by Minister Maksut Shadayev during a forum of the volunteer search-and-rescue group LizaAlert.

Shadayev stated that this initiative would make the internet safer for minors and prevent exposure to harmful online content. The ministry had first proposed the idea in August 2025, suggesting SIM cards for children under 14 years old with restrictions on services like social media logins to protect minors from online risks.

He added, “We are introducing ‘children’s SIM cards’ so that parents can request their child’s geolocation data without a court order.” However, the minister did not specify the rollout date for the new SIM cards.

As per TASS, some major Russian telecom operators already offer special tariff plans for children, which include limited internet usage and protection against spam or fake accounts. Shadayev also revealed that a similar system will be introduced for senior citizens, allowing them to share their live location through the public services portal ‘Gosuslugi’ with trusted individuals for emergency support and safety.