Digital passport and new regime: the state covers more

In the fall of 2023, a “digital passport” was officially introduced in Russia - an electronic version of an identity card, systematized and linked to State Services, banking systems and a number of services. This gave people convenience in interacting with government agencies: less paperwork, quick access to services, integration with banking and social services. For the state, it is a new tool for monitoring and recording citizens, especially important in conditions of sanctions, mobilization and increased control over the movement of capital and people. Many perceived the innovation in different ways: from convenience to concerns about privacy, data security and increased control. Such questions were especially acute among those who criticized government policies or simply valued personal privacy. September 2023 was the month when the digitalization of documents reached a level close to universal - but at the same time control increased, and the state began to penetrate deeper into the daily lives of citizens.