Russia Accuses Facebook, Twitter of Failing to Comply With Data Laws
January 21 2019 - 11:08AM
Dow Jones News
By Ann M. Simmons
MOSCOW -- Russia launched administrative action against Facebook
Inc. and Twitter Inc. on Monday for failing to comply with its data
laws, a move that comes just days after Facebook removed the
accounts of what it said were two misinformation campaigns based in
the country.
Communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, the federal executive body
responsible for censorship in media and telecommunications, said
the social-media networks hadn't submitted any formal and specific
plans or submitted an acceptable explanation of when they would
meet the country's requirements that all servers used to store
Russians' personal data be located in Russia. Roskomnadzor said it
had sent the companies a letter on Dec. 17 advising them of the
need to comply with the law and giving them 30 days to provide "a
legally valid response," Russian news agency Interfax reported.
As such, "Today, Roskomnadzor begins administrative proceedings
against both companies," the watchdog said.
The move raises concern that the social-media giants could face
future restrictions or be blocked. On Thursday, Facebook said it
would expand efforts to crack down on misuse of its service by
removing some 500 pages and accounts linked to what it said were
two Russia-based misinformation campaigns.
Vadim Ampelonsky, a spokesman for Roskomnadzor, told the
television channel Russia 24 that Facebook and Twitter could be
fined for not providing information to the watchdog.
"We expect to hold them administratively liable," Mr. Ampelonsky
said.
Representatives for Facebook and Twitter in the U.S. didn't
immediately respond to requests for comment.
Russia's law on the storage of personal data came into force in
September 2015, according to the state-controlled news agency TASS.
Last April, Roskomnadzor's head, Aleksandr Zharov, said the agency
would check, by the end of 2018, whether Facebook was complying. If
it wasn't, then the question would arise "about blocking the social
network," Interfax reported.
Mr. Zharov also promised to check Twitter for compliance with
Russian legislation. According to Interfax, the company had
notified Roskomnadzor that it had started localizing the databases
of Russian citizens in the second half of 2018.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 21, 2019 10:53 ET (15:53 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024