WhatsApp facing $377,000 fine by Russian courts

Russian news agency Tass reports that the social media giant WhatsApp messenger may be facing a fine worth up to 18 million rubles ($377,000) for repeatedly declining the court's request to localize the data of its Russian users in accordance with the country's legislation, according to sources in Moscow’s Justice of the Peace of Court No. 422.

"The court received two protocols regarding WhatsApp under Part 8 and Part 9 Article 13.11 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses [‘Refusal and repeated refusal to localize information about personal data of users on the territory of the Russian Federation]. The hearing on them (sic) has been scheduled for July 28 and September 29, 2022, respectively". The messenger faces a total fine of 24 million rubles should it be found guilty in both cases, the court source added.

Last August, the court ruled that social media giants Twitter and Facebook have to pay 17 million rubles ($227,882) and 15 million rubles ($201,072) respectively for repeated violations of the law, which requires that data on Russian users be stored in Russia. It also for the first time penalized messaging app WhatsApp – owned by Facebook – for 4 million rubles ($53,619) for the same offense.

Russian laws ‘On personal data’ obliges national and foreign companies to store personal information of Russian citizens on the country’s territory only. This also applies to foreign companies that are not physically present in Russia.