[REWRITTEN] Data Protection Reform in Russia Highlights Major Policy Shift

Igor Ashmanov, a member of the Presidential Council for the Advancement of Civil Society and Human Rights, recently spoke about reshaping how Russians’ personal data is stored and protected. He suggested that the current system, with numerous data handlers, should be replaced by a much smaller group of highly regulated entities. According to RAPSI, Ashmanov argued that tens of thousands of personal data operators should be reduced to roughly ten to twenty large, authorized organizations that operate under stringent data-protection standards. He emphasized that a master set of protections would be essential, with clear, standardized rules for safeguarding personal information while still enabling verified, responsible data usage for essential services.