Twitch, Pinterest, UPS fined by Russia over data storage row

A Moscow court fined video streaming service, Twitch; design social network, Pinterest and package couriers, United Parcel Service on June 28, 2022 over their refusal to store Russian citizens’ data in servers in Russia.

This isn’t the first time that the Russian government has locked horns with some of the biggest companies from Silicon Valley. Earlier this month, Russia refused a plea filed by Meta, which had tagged the company’s activities in the country as “extremist.” Since Russia sent troops to Ukraine on February 24, they have clashed with Big Tech incessantly on issues ranging from content censorship to local representation and data privacy.

Late last month, the Russian communication regulation agency, Roskomnadzor, filed a host of suites against Google, Amazon, Pinterest and UPS for breaching the country’s data protection laws. 

Twitch has been found guilty by the Tagansky District Court and fined 2 million roubles for violating the country’s personal data laws, according to the Moscow court’s press service. Similarly, Pinterest was fined 2 million roubles, while UPS was fined 1 million roubles. Russia also fined the Canada-based online social reading platform Wattapad 1 million roubles as it had not deleted content that the state deemed to be illegal. 

Last year, Alphabet Inc’s Google had been fined 3 million roubles for their refusal to comply with the Russian states laws that require that all Russian user databases be stored in the country. The search engine behemoth once again had a case opened against it last month for their repeated failure to adhere to the regulations. According to Roskomnadzor, this time around, Google could be fined 6-18 million roubles. 

Apart from Twitch, Pinterest and UPS, companies like Apple, Likeme and Airbnb have also had cases opened against them. For first time offenders, fines can range from 1 to 6 million roubles.