Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Government meeting approved a bill on the regulation of digital intermediary platforms. This initiative is aimed at increasing the transparency of online platforms and protecting citizens’ rights. These measures were developed under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister – Head of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko.
“The purpose of the bill is to protect the rights and interests of citizens. The document establishes basic rules for the operation of digital platforms. In particular, sellers on marketplaces will be required to undergo verification through state registers, and platforms will ensure the transparency of the terms of contracts with sellers. These and other new regulations will create security guarantees for consumers and fair conditions for business. When developing the bill, we took into account the opinion of the industry,” Dmitry Grigorenko emphasized.
The draft law proposes to introduce requirements to ensure transparency of contractual terms of sellers and order pick-up points with digital platforms, including the procedure for mutual settlements and the application of sanctions for breach of contract. At the same time, sanctions against sellers must be justified, and notification of them must be sent no later than 3 days before application. The bill also establishes the procedure for applying discounts at the expense of the seller: they can be provided with the consent of the seller, and the platform must notify him of this.
An important innovation is the pre-trial dispute resolution system. Sellers will be able to appeal platform decisions electronically. The review period for such appeals will be no more than 15 days. If the claim is recognized as justified, the platform is obliged to cancel the contested decision within 48 hours. A ban on manipulation of user results is introduced. If the buyer selects sorting by a certain criterion (for example, by price), the platform does not have the right to artificially change the order of goods by promoting advertising positions.
The new regulation clarifies the criteria under which the relationship between the platform, the customer and the contractor is recognized as civil law. These include the absence of a work schedule, the contractor’s right to refuse the order and a ban on involving third parties in the execution of the order. At the same time, platforms are given the opportunity to co-finance social and pension products for contractors.
Additionally, mandatory interaction between platform operators and tax authorities is being introduced, as well as a requirement not to pass product cards without the seller indicating compliance with product labeling requirements.
The bill proposes to regulate digital platforms that act as intermediaries in transactions and provide the opportunity to pay for goods, work or services. The final version of the document took into account proposals received from businesses and the public during the development of the bill.
The draft law will soon be submitted to the State Duma for consideration. If adopted, the law will enter into force on March 1, 2027.
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