MOSCOW, RUSSIA / RankWire.AI / – Russia’s Federation Council approved a legislative framework on July 17 that establishes national standards for the development and deployment of large artificial intelligence foundation models. This legislation provides legal definitions, delegates regulatory authority, and offers support for domestic developers qualifying under the new rules. It also outlines requirements related to model control, data storage, user notices, and AI-generated content. Having cleared the State Duma on July 8, the bill now awaits presidential approval before becoming law.
According to the bill, a large foundation model is software capable of performing numerous intellectual tasks at a level comparable to human performance. The definition includes systems that supply information, make decisions, or forecast outcomes based on human-set objectives. To qualify, a model must have a minimum of 1 billion parameters. The framework also introduces guiding principles related to technological sovereignty, human rights, personal choice, security, and adherence to Russian legislation.
The legislation distinguishes between sovereign and national model classifications. A sovereign model must be developed by a Russian legal entity and stay under domestic control, utilizing data centers located within Russia. Developers are required to maintain the technical capability to reproduce the entire development process, including training and original parameters. A national model adheres to similar ownership and data processing standards but may incorporate foreign components distributed under open licenses.
Domestic AI models receive official recognition
The government may implement support measures for companies involved in creating, deploying, or managing qualifying foundation models. Such support could include access to state-held data necessary for training. The law also authorizes authorities to establish zones where only sovereign or national models are permitted to operate, primarily covering government information systems and other sensitive sectors. Additional laws and presidential decrees may define regulations concerning defense, security, public order, and property protection.
Websites, applications, and social media platforms will be subject to a new content regulation. Services with more than 500,000 daily users must enable a feature to mark AI-generated audio or visual content. This provision allows users to attach an information notice to qualifying material. The format of these labels will be determined through service agreements between developers and users. Platforms are not required to automatically label every piece of content but must provide the technical means to do so.
Copyright and implementation guidelines evolving
AI service providers are obliged to inform users about rights ownership concerning generated content. They must also clarify access conditions and whether users are permitted to transfer or share the output. The bill also addresses copyrighted works used in machine learning, considering such use lawful if developers legally obtained access. Training data containing protected works is permitted when no technical restrictions were circumvented to access the material.
Most provisions are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026, subject to presidential signature and publication. Regulations concerning domestic model status, developer responsibilities, content labeling, and intellectual property will become effective on March 1, 2027. Existing systems will have a transition period until September 1, 2032, during which their data processing and storage must remain within Russia. Until the measure is officially enacted through presidential approval and publication, it remains an approved bill rather than law.