‘Eye of God’ data-leak hub limits information offered after Russia criminalizes leaking personal data
The Telegram channel and bot “Eye of God,” which searches online databases for personal information, has restricted the amount of data it provides in response to user requests, according to investigative journalists Ilya Rozhdestvensky and Andrey Zakharov.
The service now offers only basic information, such as full names, dates of birth, phone numbers, and taxpayer identification numbers. Previously, Zakharov noted, Eye of God would supply a file containing all available leaked data.
The service’s support team told Zakharov that the restrictions were implemented “in connection with amendments to legislation on personal data.” On November 26, the Russian State Duma passed a package of laws increasing penalties for personal data breaches and introducing criminal liability for leaking personal data.
Zakharov described Eye of God as one of the most prominent and widely used data-retrieval services, noting that it was the first of its kind on the market. “It’s considered one of the most comprehensive services and is viewed as loyal to the authorities: law enforcement agencies openly admit to using it in their operations,” he said.
