The latest amendments to the Law on Personal Data came into force on September 1, 2015. These amendments are meant to oblige companies to process personal data of Russian citizens in Russia. Infringers will be added to the Register of personal data infringers and pay an administrative fine. The Ministry of Communication and Mass Media shall be responsible for keeping the Register and for liaising with hosting providers.

The latest amendments to the Law on Personal Data came into force on September 1, 2015. These amendments are meant to oblige companies to process personal data of Russian citizens in Russia and are mostly relevant to foreign on-line shops, webmail services and social networks.

Violation of the new Law on Personal Data may result in:

• imposition of an administrative fine (10.000 RUB for companies);
• adding the company’s website to the “Register of personal data infringers” (hereinafter – “Register”) followed by blocking of the website.

The Government has approved that the following information is to be included into the Register: domain names, URLs of the websites, network addresses, i.e. information that can identify the relevant website (Regulation dated 19.08.2015 No. 857). 

The Ministry of Communication and Mass Media shall be responsible for keeping the Register and for liaising with hosting providers (Order dated 22.07.2015 No.84).

A website can be included into the Register only after a relevant court order has entered into force. Violation of the law shall result in limitation of access to the website, however if the website’s owner rectifies the violation, access can be re-established based on another court act.