Russia Fines Apple For Violating Data Storage Law

A Moscow court fined Apple 2 million rubles (approximately $34,000) on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, for refusing to store Russian customers' personal data on Russian servers as part of government efforts to control online activity, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: An Apple Store in Russia

Under the same regulation, Zoom Video Communications and Ookla, which operates the internet utility Speedtest, were both fined 1 million rubles.

For years, the Russian government has attempted to gain greater control over the internet and social media, an effort that has accelerated in recent months as it seeks to limit the flow of information about the Ukraine conflict.

A Russian court banned Facebook and Instagram in March for "extremist activities."

For years, Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has pushed to force large technology companies to relocate Russian consumers' data to Russian servers. Google, Facebook, and Twitter have all been accused of breaking the 2015 law and fined.

Apple was punished for the first time on Tuesday, according to the Interfax news agency.

According to the report, an Apple representative contended in court that data collecting in Russia was handled by a different firm, Apple Distribution, rather by Apple Inc. A Roskomnadzor official claimed that Apple was responsible. Under the same regulation, Airbnb, Pinterest, and the video streaming service Twitch were fined 2 million rubles last month.

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