Telegram, Match Group, Twitch facing multimillion fines for not localizing Russian user data

MOSCOW. Aug 16 (Interfax) - A magistrate's court in Moscow's Tagansky district has registered administrative motions filed by the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) against three foreign entities over breaking the law on storing Russian citizens' personal data on Russian territory.

"Administrative offense motions against Match Group LLC, Telegram Messenger Inc. and Twitch Interactive, Inc. have been lodged with the court. The hearings have yet to be scheduled," the court told Interfax.

Telegram, Match Group and Twitch are charged with repeatedly violating the law on localizing Russian users' data. They may be fined between six million and 18 million rubles each.

The Personal Data Law compels Russian and foreign companies to store the personal data of Russian citizens exclusively in Russia. The localization rule also applies to foreign companies that operate in Russia without a physical presence in the country.