Putin orders elaboration of additional requirements for foreign IT companies operating in Runet
MOSCOW. Feb 1 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has tasked his administration, acting together with the government, with elaborating and submitting for his consideration additional requirements for foreign technological companies operating in the Russian segment of the Internet.
The president noted that the requirements should apply, in particular, to the opening of offices of such companies in the Russian territory.
The deadline for implementing the orders is August 1.
The orders were given after the president's meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights and were published on the Kremlin website.
In addition, the government and the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights have been tasked with elaborating a draft concept before August 1 to ensure the observance of human and civil rights and freedoms in the Russian digital space and a relevant action plan.
The plan will aim to bolster the digital awareness of citizens, as well as their digital security and "digital hygiene" skills, the document said.
State Duma Committee on Information Policy member Anton Gorelkin believes that most foreign companies are continuing to ignore Russian laws. He gave the example of Twitter, which has no office in Russia and "ignores every attempt of Russian agencies to establish a constructive dialogue." Meanwhile, other foreign IT giants interact with the Russian authorities and have registered legal entities in Russia but still use them mostly as marketing divisions, Gorelkin said.
"All of them should be brought to the common denominator, the code of laws of the Russian Federation. They should open full-value offices here, ensure interests of Russian users, and cooperate with the state. If they are reluctant to do so, they will have to be forced into that," Gorelkin said on Telegram, as he was commenting on the president's order.