In Russia, came into force a law on personal data – BBC Russian

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Image caption The Roskomnadzor claim that the new law will not take the Russians have the opportunity to shop for Internet

The law obliging store personal data of Russians on servers in Russia, came into effect on September 1.

Now, Internet operators are obliged to “ensure the recording, systematization, accumulation, storage, clarification (update, change), removing the personal data of citizens of the Russian Federation, in the databases of information located in the territory of the Russian Federation”.

The only exception was It made for foreign airline reservation systems that can still store personal data of Russians abroad. Foreign reservation system used by all Russian air tickets sellers.

The law gives a broad definition of personal data – “any information relating directly or indirectly to an identified or identifiable natural person.” Although these Russians must be physically located on servers that are located in data centers in Russia, they can be copied abroad.

This document was signed by President Putin in July last year, but the date of its entry into force a few just me, Russian lawmakers want to rate began to operate as soon as possible, and industry representatives cited the inability to prepare the infrastructure in the short term.

Innovations drew criticism both in Russia and abroad: it was feared that Russia will not be able to work overseas social networking, online shopping, cloud services and the booking system.

By the localization of personal data in Russia has already begun Samsung, AliExpress, eBay, Booking.com and other large companies, said earlier the head Roskomnadzor Alexander Zharov.

At the same time, as reported by the media in late August, representatives of Facebook’s talks with Roscomnadzor put the agency before the fact that they do not find it necessary to place the data of Russian Internet users on servers in Russia – for the company is not economically profitable.

Later, a spokesman for Roskomnadzor Vadim Ampelonsky said that at a meeting with representatives of the social networks we refuse to obey the law did not go, and said that in 2015 test Facebook is not threatened.

For non-law Roskomnadzor will make the sites of companies in the register of infringers of personal data. If the agency during the inspection revealed violations, it will make the company an order requiring correct violations within 6 months. If the company fails to do so, it will have to pay a fine, which can be up to 20 thousand rubles (310 dollars) for legal entities.

Initially it was assumed that the rate will come into force on 1 September 2016, but then the State Duma postponed the deadline of January 2015, explaining his decision to a desire to protect the security of Russian citizens. Market participants are encouraged to delay the entry into force of Act, and eventually lawmakers agreed on September 1, 2015.

In February, the State Duma adopted in the first reading a bill that would significantly increase fines for violations of the storage and processing of personal data of Russians.

The biggest punishment, according to the bill – a violation of the rules of processing data on race and ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, sexual life, as well as information on criminal records. For legal entities proposed to establish a fine ranging from 150 to 300 thousand rubles.

In March, the Russian Internet Ombudsman Dmitry Marinichev proposed to change the law on personal data, performing for permission to store information about the Russians on foreign servers with their consent . This proposal has not been realized.