A “red button” to protect users from scammers is expected to appear on Gosuslugi in 2026. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko told RIA Novosti that the service is being developed further and that banks and telecom operators are joining it. Pressing the button will freeze users’ significant online operations so that criminals cannot transfer money in their name or change their passwords.
What happens when you press it
The button’s stated purpose is not simply to report suspected fraud, but to stop important online actions. Grigorenko explained to the news agency that the service is intended for people who have already encountered scammers’ tactics: the block is meant to prevent anyone from using access to their accounts to transfer funds or change passwords.
The announcement does not provide a detailed list of which operations will be considered significant and frozen. Nor does it specify the conditions under which restrictions will be lifted. For now, then, it is possible to describe the stated operating principle, but not the full procedure for using the button.
Launch promised for 2026
According to the deputy prime minister, the service is due to go live in 2026. The RIA Novosti report did not give an exact launch date; Grigorenko said the button is still being developed. This means that, at the time of the announcement, the feature was still in preparation: 2026 is the promised launch year, not a specific date.
Banks and telecom operators are joining the work on the service. Their involvement matters to the stated plan: the button is supposed to stop operations involving not only the portal, but also money or access to account credentials. However, the source does not specify which organizations are involved, how the blocking signal will be transmitted, or which actions will require user confirmation.
Connection to other anti-fraud measures
The report also mentions the third package of measures to combat cyber fraud, “Antifraud 3.0.” As Vedomosti reported on December 30, it is proposed that the package include a ban on reselling identification modules provided to subscribers under mobile service agreements with a phone number assigned to them.
The package also sets out additional requirements for tracking corporate numbers and equipment for M2M devices—systems that automatically exchange data between devices without human involvement. These are separate measures described in the Vedomosti report: the source does not say that they are part of the “red button” mechanism or that they will be triggered automatically when it is pressed.
What is known about the timeline for the changes
A separate effective date—March 1, 2026—is given for the amendments in “Antifraud 3.0.” This date applies to legislative changes concerning modules, corporate numbers and equipment, not to the launch of the button on Gosuslugi: only the year 2026 has been given for the service.
Thus, the reports refer to two different security measures and provide different levels of detail. For the button, the expected effect, participating organizations and launch year are known; for the “Antifraud 3.0” package, the proposed restrictions and the date the amendments take effect are specified. The details of how users will interact with the button and the exact date it will appear have not yet been disclosed.
What remains unclear
The published description does not explain how users will confirm that they have pressed the button, which services or operations will be temporarily unavailable, or how quickly banks and telecom operators will receive the signal. It also does not say whether users will need to contact the organizations separately after activating the protection.
For now, only the basic concept has been confirmed: the button on Gosuslugi is meant to freeze significant online actions and make it harder for criminals to transfer money or change passwords. The details will become clear after development is complete and the service’s operating procedure is announced.
The bottom line: The “red button” on Gosuslugi is promised for 2026. It is supposed to block significant online operations, but the exact launch date and rules for using it have not yet been announced.
