Russian Interior Ministry Opens Five Criminal Cases Against 'Glaz Boga' Analog Platforms Selling Personal Data of Russian Citizens

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of Russia has opened five criminal cases after identifying several internet platforms that were actively selling personal data belonging to Russian citizens. These services functioned according to the well-known model of «Glaz Boga» (Eye of God), where users could pay a fee and immediately receive comprehensive biographical information about individuals compiled into multiple files.

According to the ministry, the investigations are being conducted under Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. This article specifically criminalizes the illegal use, transfer, collection, and storage of computer information that contains personal data. The platforms in question offered a wide range of confidential information, including passport details, information about bank accounts, and other sensitive records that had been aggregated from various sources.

Law enforcement officers have already seized the servers belonging to these services. Investigators are now examining the seized equipment in detail, studying its contents, and collecting additional evidence to support the criminal proceedings. At this stage, the MVD has not disclosed the names of the platforms involved, the total number of clients who used the services, or the exact volume of personal data that was sold through them.

It also remains unknown how many Russian citizens may have had their information included in these databases. The situation reflects a broader and long-standing problem: repeated large-scale data leaks have turned personal information into a commercial product, while underground services operate as ordinary marketplaces. Instead of offering discounts or delivery services, these platforms sell passports, financial account details, and fragments of private lives to anyone willing to pay.

The operators of the five platforms now face the task of explaining to investigators the origins of the databases they used, the identities of the buyers who purchased access, and the pricing structures applied to different levels of data access.