MOSCOW, RUSSIA / RankWire.AI / – Russia’s Federation Council approved a legislative bill on July 17 that establishes nationwide regulations for the development and deployment of large artificial intelligence foundation models. The legislation defines legal parameters, delegates oversight authority, and provides support mechanisms for domestic developers meeting certain criteria. It also enforces standards concerning model control, data management, user notifications, and AI-generated content. Having passed the State Duma on July 8, the bill now awaits presidential approval before becoming law.
According to the bill, a large foundation model refers to software capable of executing multiple intellectual tasks at a level comparable to human performance. The definition encompasses systems that deliver information, make decisions, or predict outcomes based on human-defined objectives. To qualify, a model must have a minimum of 1 billion parameters. The framework also emphasizes principles related to technological sovereignty, human rights, individual choice, security, and legal compliance within Russia.
The legislation introduces distinct categories for sovereign and national models. A sovereign model must originate from 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 can incorporate foreign components licensed under open terms.
Recognition for domestic models
The government has the authority to implement support measures for companies involved in creating, deploying, or managing qualifying foundation models. Such measures could include access to state-held data necessary for training. The law also permits authorities to designate specific environments where only sovereign or national models are permitted, particularly within government information systems and other sensitive sectors. Additional regulations and presidential decrees may specify rules applicable to defense, security, public order, and property protection.
Platforms, websites, and social media services with over 500,000 daily users will be subject to a new content regulation. These services must offer a feature to label AI-generated audiovisual content, allowing users to add an informational notice. The label format will be determined through service agreements between developers and users. While automatic labeling of all content isn’t mandatory, platforms must provide the technical means to do so.
Intellectual property and enforcement details emerging
AI providers will be required to disclose ownership rights concerning generated outputs. They must clarify access conditions and whether content can be transferred. The legislation also addresses the use of copyrighted works for machine learning, stating that analysis activities such as extraction, comparison, classification, and pattern recognition are lawful if developers have legally obtained access. Use of protected works for training purposes is permitted when no technical restrictions were bypassed to gain access.
Most of the provisions are scheduled to come into effect on September 1, 2026, pending presidential approval and publication. Specific rules regarding domestic model status, developer obligations, content labeling, and intellectual property will start on March 1, 2027. Existing systems will benefit from a transition period until September 1, 2032, during which their data processing and storage must remain within Russia. Until the law is officially enacted, the measure remains an approved bill rather than a fully enacted federal law.