Data directions: WhatsApp faces $1.3m fine in Russia

Moscow: The WhatsApp messenger may face an 80 million rubles fine ($1.3 million) for a repeated refusal to localize data of Russians, a Moscow court told Sputnik on Wednesday, adding that the case will be considered on July 28.
“The magistrate of judicial district No. 422 of the Tagansky district of Moscow received administrative material initiated on the basis of a protocol on administrative offenses drawn up by Roskomnadzor [Russia’s media watchdog] in relation to: WhatsApp (WhatsApp LLC) under part 9 of article 13.11 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The hearing is scheduled for June 28 at 10.30,” the court’s spokeswoman said.
Moreover, Spotify and the owner of the Snapchat application may be fined six million rubles for a refusal to localize data of Russians, the spokeswoman added. (UNI/SPUTNIK)