The Government Commission on Legislative Activities has approved a draft law on the regulation of digital intermediary platforms. This was reported in the office of Deputy Prime Minister — Head of the Government Staff of Russia Dmitry Grigorenko.
The initiative aims to increase the transparency of online platforms and protect the rights of citizens. The draft law will soon be submitted to the State Duma. If the amendments are adopted, they will come into force on March 1, 2027.
The draft law aims to regulate digital platforms that act as intermediaries in transactions and allow payment for goods, works, or services. The final version of the document takes into account the proposals of businesses and the public received during the discussion of the project, the Deputy Prime Minister's office reported.
The purpose of the draft law is to protect the rights and interests of citizens. We strive to create a safe and transparent environment for all participants in the platform economy. The draft law not only establishes areas of responsibility for digital intermediaries to buyers, but also guarantees businesses mechanisms for fair dispute resolution and stable conditions for development.
The draft law requires online platforms to check sellers through special systems before allowing them to sell goods. The terms of transactions must be clear, and the payment procedure must be transparent. The platform can apply sanctions to the seller only if they are stipulated in the contract. It must explain the reason and notify the seller three days in advance. The draft law also establishes rules for providing discounts: they are possible only with the consent of the seller, and the platform is obliged to notify him about this.
It is also planned to create a system of pre-trial dispute resolution. The seller will be able to appeal the decision or action of the platform electronically. Platforms will be required to consider such appeals within 15 days. If the claim is justified, they must cancel the disputed decision within 48 hours. In addition, it will be prohibited to change the order of sorting goods without the consent of the buyer.
The draft law lays the foundation for the development of the platform economy, emphasized Vladimir Gruzdev, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia (ALRF).
These are property relations in the process of using certain types of digital platforms, such as service aggregators or marketplaces. A legal framework is being formed for the activities of platform economy entities: the basic terms, principles and a number of specific norms of the procedure for the operation of operators and the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs and citizens are enshrined.
For example, standards are being introduced for logistics systems and pick-up points of digital platform operators. Digital platform operators will be punished for non-compliance with the rules. The fine for them will be up to 500 thousand rubles. Sellers who work through intermediaries may receive a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles.
The adoption of laws will allow for a more thorough regulation of relations between digital platform operators, entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens, which will create additional guarantees and measures to protect the rights of all participants in such relations.