Russian Internet-related services and products

not sure where to put this but its internet related so I'll just drop it here

Russian watchdog opens administrative case against Google

According to the regulator, the US-based Google LLC failed to remove information on Internet resources access to which is limited in Russia from its search engine

MOSCOW, November 23. /TASS/. The Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media has opened administrative proceedings against the US-based Google LLC, the regulator’s press service told TASS on Monday.

"The company is charged with the failure to comply with the requirement of Russian laws concerning non-removal of information banned in Russia from search results," the press service said. "Google does not remove up to 30% of dangerous content from search results," it added.

Administrative proceedings were opened in respect of repeated commitment of an administrative violation in terms of failure of the search engine operator to perform its responsibilities, the watchdog said.

Presence of data on Internet resources access to which is limited in the Russian Federation was found in Google’s search results, the press service said. The company did not present objections to the statement prepared by the regulator regarding the failure to remove Internet resources with prohibited content from search results.

I hope the fines will be significant enough to make Google think twice of any future non compliance.

Whatever happened to Russia’s sovereign internet law? Isn’t it supposed to address NATzO propaganda aimed at brainwashing gullible Russians and causing insurrection? The recent flooding of anti Putin propaganda across Russian internet space is a brazen NATzO influence operation. I’d like to see Russian authorities make use of these new laws to stamp out these poisonous NATzO appendages like YouShlT and Twatter

Russia may block foreign internet companies without local offices

MOSCOW, May 21. /TASS/. Large foreign internet companies, whose owners do not comply with requirements for opening branches or representative offices in Russia may find there services blocked. The corresponding sanction is stipulated by the bill on the regulation of the work of IT giants in Russia. The text of the document is published in the State Duma’s electronic database.

The State Duma is the lower house of the Russian parliament.

In particular, the new law provides for the partial or complete restriction of access to foreign information resources.

If the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) decides to block a certain Internet resource it "uses technical means of countering threats" specified in the law on communications, the text of the initiative says.

Also, under the law, companies violating the law may be prohibited from collecting personal data from Russians. If the watchdog makes an appropriate decision, "a foreign person operating on the Internet in the territory of the Russian Federation <...> is not entitled to collect the personal data of citizens of the Russian Federation", the bill states.

Other measures listed in the document include a ban on the distribution of advertising on an information resource, on making payments to it, a ban on search results, as well as informing users of Internet resources about violations of the legislation of the Russian Federation.

According to one of the authors of the initiative, State Duma deputy Anton Gorelkin, the overwhelming majority of foreign platforms operating in Russia "will open Russian representations without any conflict."

"Our approach will be convenient for foreign platforms that wish to continue building their business in our local market. The format of a personal account for exchanging legally significant messages with our regulator will be convenient and functional. There are no political motives. We strive to build clear transparent relations with foreign players and protect the rights of Russian users," he assured.

The lawmaker clarified that the new requirements will affect not only "well-known deviators, like Facebook and Twitter," but also Google and Apple.

"Because Google LLC and Apple Rus LLC, currently operating in Russia, do not officially represent their parent companies. These are either advertising departments, or sales offices, or GR-divisions with a reduced number of functions. I was personally convinced of this by sending them my deputy requests," he said.

Gorelkin stressed that the envisaged sanctions are aimed primarily at reducing the income of violating companies in the Russian market.

"The formula is simple: if you do not want to open full-fledged offices, you will not earn here, not a single kopeck in the future," the lawmaker warned.

The bill submitted to the State Duma states that from January 1, 2022, owners of large foreign Internet resources with a daily audience of over 500,000 Russian users should create branches in the Russian Federation, open representative offices or establish Russian legal entities that must fully represent the interests of parent companies. The authors of the document were members of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy and Senator Alexei Pushkov.

Russia gives Google 24 hours to delete banned content

Russia's communications watchdog on Monday gave Google (GOOGL.O) 24 hours to delete what it called prohibited content or be fined and said Moscow could eventually slow down the company's traffic in the country.

Russia has already placed a punitive slowdown on U.S. social network Twitter (TWTR.N) for not deleting banned content, part of a push by Moscow to rein in Western tech giants and beef up what it calls its internet "sovereignty". read more

The watchdog, Roskomnadzor, said it had sent more than 26,000 calls to Google to remove illegal information, including videos containing information on drugs or violence and material from what it called extremist organisations.

Google will be fined between 800,000 roubles and 4 million roubles ($10,800-$54,000) if it does not restrict access to the banned information, Roskomnadzor said.

A repeat offence would be punishable by a fine of up to 10% of the company's total annual revenue, it said.

Google Russia did not respond to a request for comment about the watchdog's deadline.

Roskomnadzor also accused Google of censorship for allegedly restricting YouTube access to Russian media outlets, including RT and Sputnik.

"This censorship of Russian media and the targeted support for illegal protest activity actually speak to the political colouring of Google's activities in Russia," Roskomnadzor said.

Google's Russian arm last week lodged an appeal against a Moscow court order obliging it to unblock the YouTube account of a Christian Orthodox news channel owned by a Russian businessman who is under U.S. and EU financial sanctions.

Moscow court documents also showed on Monday that Google was suing Roskomnadzor over the demands it remove banned content.

Roskomnadzor said the lawsuit concerned 12 YouTube links to "unlawful content" which involved encouraging minors to join unsanctioned protests in January, when people across Russia took to the streets to support jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Navalny and his allies have used YouTube widely to air graft allegations against senior Russian officials and to organise their opposition activities.

The YouTube channel of the staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin has close to 6.5 million subscribers.

Google filed its lawsuit on April 23, documents from Moscow's Arbitration Court showed, but it was only accepted on May 11 after some administrative issues had been ironed out. A hearing is scheduled for July 14.

Google Russia declined to comment on the lawsuit.