Read Time:1 Minute, 51 Second
Russian regulators have fined Meta-owned platforms WhatsApp and Snapchat
for allegedly refusing to store Russian users’ data on Russia-based servers as
part of the government’s effort to control its citizens’ online activities.
According to a ruling by Moscow’s Tagansky District Court, on Thursday, July
28, WhatsApp was served a $300,000 (18 million rubles) fine for a repeat
offense following a $664,000 (4 million rubles) penalty imposed on the online
chat giant last year.
Besides WhatsApp, the court also fined Snapchat $166,000 (1 million rubles)
for the disappearing messages, a feature that WhatsApp had also introduced
on its platform.
However, the two chat giants weren’t alone in trouble, as other tech
companies also faced fines based on their offenses. According to a report by
the US News, the Russian court also fined Tinder owner Match Group $32,260
(2 million rubles), music streaming service Spotify $8,100 (0.5 million rubles),
and Hotel.com 1 million rubbles.
Justifying the punitive move, the Communication regulator Roskomnandzor
said the five companies had not submitted documents confirming that the
processing and storing Russian users’ data was taking place on the local
servers.
Moscow’s War On Online Users’ Privacy
Moscow has been attempting to establish greater control over social media
and the internet for years. However, the state authorities intensified their
efforts after the Russian invasion of Ukraine to limit the flow of information
about Ukraine.
In early July, a Russian court also fined Apple Inc. about $34,000 (2 million
roubles) over the same data storage issue, which collides with the tech
company’s user privacy policy. The courts also fined Pinterest, Airbnb, and
Twitch the same amount of money within the same month.
However, such incidences are not new for foreign platforms operating within
Russia’s territory. In March 2022, Russia restricted access to Meta’s Facebook
and Instagram and Twitter Inc.’s Twitter soon after the Ukraine war began.
According to Kremlin’s critics, the move has nothing to do with internet
activity but with Russia’s effort to exert control over information flow. So far,
more than 600 foreign companies have agreed to comply with Russia’s
demands in line with the data storage law adopted in 2015.
Russian authorities emphasized the law is necessary to ensure that foreign
intelligence services and all kinds of fraudsters do not gain access to the
critical data.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
