Russia has fined Facebook 4 million roubles ($62,922) for its failure to comply with the local data laws, Reuters reported today. The social networking giant was fined by the Tagansky District Court for its failure to hold data of its Russian users locally in the country.
Along with Facebook, Twitter has also been fined with the same penalty of 4 million rubles for its refusal to store the personal data of Russian citizens on local servers. These latest penalties are the first five-figure fines imposed on tech companies since the country approved draconian internet laws enabling the government to tighten its control over online activity.
Russia had earlier threatened to "make Facebook comply" with the local laws
This may be the first time for a five-figure fine, but the country has long been trying to "manage" tech companies. Roskomnadzor, the local internet regulator has tried to push Silicon Valley tech giants to use local servers for storage of personal data on Russian citizens for a few years now. Back in 2017, Russia threatened to block Facebook "next year" if it refuses to comply with the data storage requirements.
Russian chief of the Federal Communications Agency, Alexander Zharov, had warned in September, 2017 that the country will work to "make Facebook comply with the law" that requires foreign companies to store personal data in Russia.
While talking to the local media, Zharov said that while the country understands Facebook's "unique service," it will not make any exceptions.
After this verbal threat, the country imposed a fine equivalent of $47 on these social networking sites. However, since that didn't have any impact, the regulator increased the fines. The regular said that the same provision under which latest fines have been imposed will be used to fine Twitter and Facebook 18 million rubles ($283,000) each if they don't comply this year.
The ultimate threat that the regulator uses is to completely ban tech companies that don't comply with these laws from the country. LinkedIn remains blocked in the country.
- More in this stream
- US "Deeply Concerned" Over Russia Blocking LinkedIn - Facebook and Twitter Could Be Next
- Russia Demands Apple to Help in Blocking Telegram
- Russia Fines Telegram for Refusing to Hand Over Encryption Keys to the FSB
- Telegram Says Apple Has Sided with Russia, Blocking Its App Updates Worldwide
- Moscow Claims Twitter Has Agreed to Store Data on Local Servers Despite Surveillance Concerns
- Russia & China Tighten Their Control on the Internet: Facebook & WhatsApp Currently on the Chopping Board
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