Russia threatens to block Facebook
Facebook may stop its work in Russia in 2018 if it does not comply with the law on the localization of personal data, said the head of Roskomnadzor (Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media) Alexander Zharov, reports Interfax.
"The law applies to everyone. In any case, either we will accomplish the law’s implementation, or the company will cease working on the territory of the Russian Federation, as, unfortunately, was the case with LinkedIn. There are no exceptions, " said Zharov.
He added that a timetable has already been set for resolving this problem, and they it would be observed.
The law "On Personal Data" states that personal data of Russian citizens must be kept on the territory of the country.
"We are going to make it so the 242nd law is observed by Facebook. In 2018, everything will be straightened out, " Zharov stressed. He explained that a deadline for the company to comply had been set, and that it would be observed.
"We are well aware that Facebook has a significant number of users on the territory of the Russian Federation; on the other hand, we understand that this is not a unique service, and that there are other social media networks," explained Zharov.
He said that the company's position is that they are considering options for how to implement this law, and that the government have not received official letters from them. "We have no plan for checking Facebook's direction through the end of 2017; in 2018 we'll think about it, maybe we'll check it," Zharov said.
He recalled that the company Twitter has already specified the date of localization of personal data - mid-2018. "We proceed from a position of goodwill, as the company wrote us an official letter, so until that moment we will not check it; but after that moment we will immediately check," Zharov said.
Amendments to the law "On Personal Data" came into force in September 2015. According to the law, any Russian or foreign company oriented toward working with Russian users should ensure the recording, systematization, accumulation, storage, and specification of personal data of Russians using databases located on the territory of the Russian Federation.