The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched a major special operation aimed at identifying and stopping the activities of websites, Telegram channels and bots that provide access to the personal data of Russians. This became known on March 31, 2025, from sources close to law enforcement agencies. Regional departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were instructed to begin searching for such resources on March 11, several days after the operation of the well-known bot "Eye of God", which was used to obtain personal information of citizens, was restricted. The order, as specified, is related to the tightening of legislation in the field of data protection.

According to the Telegram channel "Baza", the operation will last three weeks, until mid-April. The main goal is to identify the owners and administrators of the resources involved in the so-called "punching" and bring them to criminal responsibility. The basis for this was the introduction of Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which provides for punishment for the illegal use, collection, transfer or storage of computer information with personal data. The new law, adopted in early 2025, significantly strengthened control over the circulation of personal information, responding to the increasing incidence of leaks and their use in fraud.

The special operation began against the backdrop of a high-profile scandal involving the "Eye of God" bot, which provided access to Russians' phone numbers, addresses, and other data for a small fee. Its blocking in March was the authorities' first noticeable step in the fight against such services. According to sources, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already identified dozens of websites and channels offering similar services, including traffic police, tax service, and telecom operator databases. Operatives plan not only to close these resources, but also to stop leak channels, often linked to corruption in government agencies.

Today, the problem of data breaches remains acute. In March 2025, Roskomnadzor reported a 25% increase in the number of complaints about personal information leaks compared to the previous year, and the damage from fraud using such data is estimated at 50 billion rubles annually. At the beginning of the month, hackers broke into the Rosreestr database, posting data on 82 million Russians online, which prompted the authorities to tighten measures. The new law provides for up to seven years in prison for data trading, and up to ten years for officials, which makes the special operation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs part of a wider campaign.

The public reaction is mixed. Experts welcome the fight against leaks, but point out the need to eliminate their sources, not just the consequences. Social networks are discussing whether the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be able to turn the tide, given the popularity of anonymous services on the darknet. Meanwhile, the first arrests have already been recorded in the regions: on March 28, the administrator of a Telegram channel was arrested in Novosibirsk for trading data from bank databases.