A Moscow magistrate has imposed administrative fines on Spotify and Airbnb for repeated refusals to localize the personal data of Russian Federation citizens within the territory of Russia. Interfax reported this development.
The two services are now required to pay a combined fine of 6 million rubles.
Roskomnadzor protocols state that Spotify and Airbnb maintain user personal data in Russia on servers located in the European Union and the United States. Representatives from Spotify and Airbnb did not attend the court session.
In July 2022, Moscow court previously fined Spotify 500 thousand rubles for failing to localize the personal data of Russians.
In October 2023, the court conducted its first hearing in Moscow and issued a fine against Zoom Video Communications for violations of the rules governing foreign organizations operating on the Russian Internet. Zoom Video Communications Inc. is based in the United States but operates within the Russian Federation.
Earlier reports noted that Zoom was previously fined after it did not localize Russian user data.
Court actions in these cases reflect ongoing enforcement of local data localization requirements and the penalties that may be imposed on foreign technology firms for noncompliance. The rulings emphasize the authorities’ focus on ensuring that sensitive personal information of Russian residents is stored within the country’s borders. Observers say the measures align with broader Russian data sovereignty policies aimed at safeguarding data and maintaining regulatory control over digital services operating inside Russia. The outcomes illustrate how Russian regulators continue to monitor and sanction foreign platforms that fail to meet localization obligations, a policy stance that has generated significant discussion in international tech circles. (Source attribution: Interfax)