Russia Adds Apple and Microsoft to Surveillance Registry
Roskomnadzor added Apple and Microsoft to a registry requiring them to store Russian user data and provide it to security services upon request.
The Russian communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, added Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corporation to its registry of organizers of information dissemination on October 2. This designation requires the companies to store written, audio, and video communications of Russian users and provide that data to security services upon request.
Under the registry rules, companies must maintain user records and transmission data within Russia for three years. Failure to comply with these mandates may result in penalties or restricted access to their services within the country. Google joined the registry in January.
This action is part of a broader crackdown on the domestic internet and overseas technology platforms following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Russian government has already limited the functionality of other services, including FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Signal.
