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Russia adds Apple and Microsoft to state surveillance registry
Russia has officially added Apple and Microsoft to its registry of “organizers of information dissemination,” managed by the state media watchdog Roskomnadzor. Under these new regulations, both companies are required to store the communications of local users, including text, audio, and video messages, on servers located within Russia for a period of up to three years.
The mandate requires these tech giants to hand over user data to Russian security agencies upon request without a formal legal process. This move joins several other major platforms already on the list, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Meet, Snapchat, and Cloudflare.
Failure to comply with these storage and disclosure requirements could result in significant fines or the restriction of services within the country. This development follows a period of increasing tension between Russia and international tech firms, including previous fines against Apple for failing to store iCloud data locally and the suspension of various Apple services following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Entities
Apple · Microsoft · Roskomnadzor · Russia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The registry is maintained by Roskomnadzor, Russia's state media watchdog. www.newsbytesapp.com · shiftdelete.net · 9to5mac.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Apple was previously fined in 2022 for failing to store iCloud data on local servers. www.newsbytesapp.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Apple opened an office in Moscow in February 2022. www.newsbytesapp.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Companies on the registry must store local users' messages, audio, and video communications for up to three years. www.newsbytesapp.com · shiftdelete.net · 9to5mac.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Companies must provide user data to security agencies upon request. www.newsbytesapp.com · shiftdelete.net · 9to5mac.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Google Meet was added to the same registry in January. shiftdelete.net · 9to5mac.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Apple and Microsoft were added to Russia's registry of organizers of information dissemination on October 2. shiftdelete.net · 9to5mac.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Non-compliance can lead to fines or service restrictions in Russia. shiftdelete.net · 9to5mac.com