MOSCOW, RUSSIA / RankWire.AI / – Russia’s Federation Council has sanctioned a legislative bill on July 17 that establishes national guidelines for the development and deployment of large artificial intelligence foundation models. This legislation defines key legal terms, delegates regulatory authority, and supports domestic developers that meet certain criteria. It also introduces standards for model oversight, data storage, user notifications, and AI-generated content. Having passed the State Duma on July 8, the bill now awaits presidential approval before becoming law.
The bill describes a large foundation model as software capable of performing numerous intellectual tasks at a human-comparable level. The definition encompasses systems that supply information, make decisions, or predict outcomes based on human-set objectives. To qualify, a model must contain no fewer than 1 billion parameters. The framework also articulates principles related to technological sovereignty, human rights, personal choice, security, and compliance with Russian legislation.
The legislation differentiates between sovereign and national model categories. A sovereign model must be developed by a Russian legal entity and stay under local control, utilizing data centers located within Russia. Developers are required to maintain the technical capacity to reproduce the entire development process, including training and original parameters. A national model adheres to similar ownership and data processing rules but may incorporate foreign components licensed under open terms.
Formal recognition for domestic models
The government might introduce support initiatives for companies involved in creating, deploying, or managing qualifying foundation models. Such measures could include access to state-held data essential for training purposes. The law also authorizes authorities to designate specific operational zones where only sovereign or national models are permitted, covering government information systems and other sensitive sectors. Additional laws and presidential decrees may establish regulations concerning defense, security, public order, and property protection.
Websites, applications, and social media platforms will face a new content regulation. Services with over 500,000 daily users must include a feature allowing users to label AI-generated audio or visual content. This provides a way for users to add an informational notice to qualifying material. Developers and platform operators will determine the label format through their service agreements. While automatic labeling of every piece isn’t mandatory, platforms must offer the technical capability to do so.
Intellectual property and implementation guidelines emerging
AI service providers are required to inform users about the ownership rights associated with generated content. They must also clarify access conditions and whether users are permitted to transfer the material. The bill separately addresses copyrighted works used in machine learning, considering analysis for extraction, comparison, classification, and pattern detection lawful when developers have legally obtained access. Training with protected works is permitted when no technical restrictions blocking access are bypassed.
Most provisions are slated to take effect on September 1, 2026, contingent upon presidential signature and publication. Regulations concerning domestic model status, developer responsibilities, content labeling, and intellectual property will begin 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 a formal law.