In a move that has set tongues wagging across the digital world, Russia has unveiled a new type of SIM card designed specifically for children, giving parents the power to track their kids’ whereabouts in real time.
The announcement was made by Maksut Shadayev, the Minister of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media, in a statement obtained by The News Chronicle.
According to Shadayev, “The SIM cards for children would be issued only with the permission of parents.”
He explained that the innovation would allow parents to access their children’s location data instantly without going through lengthy official procedures or court approvals.
The minister also noted that senior citizens could appoint trusted individuals to monitor their location information through a government website.
Shadayev revealed that users of the child-specific SIMs would have limited access to certain corners of the internet, particularly social media platforms.
Originally floated in August, the initiative, he said, is aimed at keeping young users under the age of 14 safe from harmful online content while ensuring that parents can keep an eye on their movements.
With this development, Russia appears to be tightening its digital reins, ensuring that children stay within safe bounds while parents sleep with one eye open and one finger on the map.
