7 Jul 2022 09:04

Whatsapp messenger facing fine of up to 18 mln rubles over repeat refusal to localize Russian users' data

MOSCOW. July 7 (Interfax) - A magistrates court in Moscow has scheduled for July 28 a hearing of administrative offense motions vs. Whatsapp, Spotify, and Snapchat over repeat refusal to localize Russian users' data, the court press service told Interfax.

"The administrative motions have been filed in regard to the Whatsapp messenger, the Spotify service and the Snapchat application under Article 13.11 [of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses] (failure of an operator gathering personal data, including on the Internet, to comply with the duty envisaged by Russian personal data laws to record, systematize, accumulate, store, clarify (renew, update) or retrieve personal data of Russian citizens using databases located in the territory of the Russian Federation)," the court said.

Whatsapp is facing a fine of up to 18 million rubles over repeat violation of the law under Part 9, Article 13.11 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offensives, while Spotify and Snapchat are facing fines of up to 6 million rubles each under Part 8 Article 13.11 of the same code.

The hearings are scheduled to take place on July 28.