Moscow has clashed with the world’s leading tech companies over content, censorship, data and local representation in disputes that have intensified since Russia sent its armed forces to Ukraine on February 24.
Moscow’s Tagansky District Court fined WhatsApp 18 million rubles ($301,255), Tinder owner Match Group 2 million rubles, and Snap and Hotels.com, owned by Expedia Group Inc (EXPE.O). ) , with 1 million rubles, news agencies reported. WhatsApp was fined for the same offense last August.
The RIA news agency quoted a Hotels.com lawyer as saying the company did not recognize the charge as a crime, adding that the company had stopped processing user data from Russia since April 1.
Russia restricted access to flagship Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram, as well as the social network Twitter, shortly after the conflict in Ukraine began, a move critics have portrayed as an effort by Russia to exert greater control. about information flows.
Meta was found guilty of “extremist activity” in Russia and had an appeal against the label rejected in June, but Moscow has allowed WhatsApp to remain available.
According to the ruling, when referring to Meta in the public sphere, organizations and individuals must include the disclaimer that Meta’s activities are prohibited on Russian territory.
Microsoft’s LinkedIn has been blocked in Russia for years after a court found it breached the data storage rule, which was passed in 2015.
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