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| A logo is pictured at Google’s European Engineering Center in Zurich April16, 2015. REUTERS/ARND WIEGMANN |
Russia has launched a civil case against
Google, accusing it of failing to comply with a legal requirement to remove
certain entries from its search results, the country’s communications watchdog
said on Monday.
Google, accusing it of failing to comply with a legal requirement to remove
certain entries from its search results, the country’s communications watchdog
said on Monday.
If found guilty, the U.S. internet giant
could be fined up to 700,000 rubles ($10,450), the watchdog, Roskomnadzor,
said.
could be fined up to 700,000 rubles ($10,450), the watchdog, Roskomnadzor,
said.
It said Google had not joined a state
registry that lists banned websites that Moscow believes contain illegal
information and was therefore in breach of the law.
registry that lists banned websites that Moscow believes contain illegal
information and was therefore in breach of the law.
A final decision in the case will be made
in December, the watchdog said. Google declined to comment.
in December, the watchdog said. Google declined to comment.
Over the past five years, Russia has
introduced tougher internet laws that require search engines to delete some
search results, messaging services to share encryption keys with security
services, and social networks to store Russian users’ personal data on servers
within the country.
introduced tougher internet laws that require search engines to delete some
search results, messaging services to share encryption keys with security
services, and social networks to store Russian users’ personal data on servers
within the country.
At the moment, the only tools Russia has
to enforce its data rules are fines that typically only come to a few thousand
dollars, or blocking the offending online services, which is an option fraught
with technical difficulties.
to enforce its data rules are fines that typically only come to a few thousand
dollars, or blocking the offending online services, which is an option fraught
with technical difficulties.
Head of Russian spy agency accused of
British poison attack dies
British poison attack dies
Three sources familiar with the matter
told Reuters on Monday that Russia planned to impose stiffer fines on
technology firms that fail to comply with Russian laws.
told Reuters on Monday that Russia planned to impose stiffer fines on
technology firms that fail to comply with Russian laws.
The plans for harsher fines are contained
in a consultation document prepared by the administration of President Vladimir
Putin and sent to industry players for feedback.
in a consultation document prepared by the administration of President Vladimir
Putin and sent to industry players for feedback.
The legislation, if it goes ahead, would
hit global tech giants such as Facebook and Google, which – if found to have
breached rules – could face fines equal to 1 percent of their annual revenue in
Russia, according to the sources.
hit global tech giants such as Facebook and Google, which – if found to have
breached rules – could face fines equal to 1 percent of their annual revenue in
Russia, according to the sources.
