Network does not transfer its servers to Russia, which violates legislation
LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, may turn out to be the first casualty of Russia’s Federal Law On Personal Data, Kommersant writes. According to the country’s Internet watchdog, the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications, LinkedIn did not transfer its servers to Russia. Moreover, it collects and transmits information on citizens that do not use LinkedIn, without their consent, the watchdog stated.
According to the federal agency, the activities of LinkedIn include collecting, using, storing and transferring citizens’ personal data, which violates Russia’s legislation. Due to the fact that LinkedIn has no official representative office in Russia, the federal watchdog took legal action requesting the court to restrict access to this network. Moscow’s Tagansky District court had earlier upheld this petition.
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"This is, undoubtedly, a high-profile decision, as it concerns one of the best known global online resources," said Yekaterina Tilling from the law firm, Tiling Peters LLC. She added that LinkedIn Corporation did not take part in the proceedings, even though it was informed about the case. "The court, thus, evaluated the evidence presented by the Federal Service and passed the ruling on its basis," she explained.
Meanwhile, Russian Presidential Adviser for Internet Issues, German Klimenko, told the paper that, "if the Federal Service… wins and blocks (LinkedIn), that will be a signal for those companies that did not transfer (Russians’ personal data). This also concerns Facebook, Twitter and all foreign companies."
Source: TASS.com