MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Russian State Duma, or lower house of the parliament, passed in a third and final reading a bill imposing obligatory installment of domestic software on electronic devices sold in Russia.
The list of devices and programs will be determined by the Russian government, a Duma statement said Thursday.
An explanatory note accompanying the bill mentions smartphones, computers and TV sets with Smart TV function among the devices on which the domestic software will have to be installed.
The law aimed to protect the interests of Russian Internet companies and to reduce the number of abuses by large foreign companies, working in the field of information technology, the note said.
It also provides Russian companies with legal mechanisms for promotion of their programs and services in the information technology field among Russian users, it added.
The bill has yet to be endorsed by the Federation Council, or upper house of the parliament, and to be signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The law is expected to become effective from July 1, 2020, the Duma statement said.
