MOSCOW, July 2 (RAPSI) — Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor has summoned representatives of U.S. Internet services Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter to draw up administrative protocols for violating the requirements of the Russian legislation in the field of personal data, specifically, as concerns localizing databases of Russian users in Russia.

Earlier, Roskomnadzor has demanded that a number of foreign companies provide documents confirming that the storage and processing of personal data of Russian users is carried out on the territory of the Russian Federation. Services Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter failed to provide such data in a timely manner. 

In 2020, Facebook and Twitter were already fined 4 million rubles (about $55,000 at the current exchange rate) each by Russian courts. Facebook paid the fine, Twitter failed to pay. The question concerning localization of databases of Russian users in the national territory has been discussed with foreign companies since 2015. Roskomnadzor reminded that according to the Russian legislation, personal databases operators are obliged to ensure the recording, systematization, accumulation, storage, correction (update, change), extraction of personal data of citizens of the Russian Federation using databases located on its territory. Localization of databases on the territory of the Russian Federation allows ensuring the required level of protection of personal data of Russian users.

Failure to confirm the fact of localization of databases of Russian citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation entails the imposition of administrative fines on legal entities in the amount of 1 million to 6 million rubles ($13,500 to $80,000). In cases of repeated violations of this requirement the fines are to range from 6 million to 18 million rubles ($80,000 to $245,000).