As technology and the use of the internet continue to evolve, lawmakers remain focused on setting a legal framework for businesses operating “online” in Russia. In 2021, the Russian regulatory landscape underwent significant changes, which will no doubt have an impact on how tech and media companies conduct their business in Russia. Some key highlights include the following:
- A “Landing Law” that forces IT and big-tech companies to, among other things, set up their presence in Russia and communicate with the Russian authorities.
- A law introducing the so-called “Gorelkin Counter,” which requires news aggregators, audiovisual services, and mass media to measure their audience with the use of a specific software.
- A “Social Media Law,” which introduces the definition of social media and sets out obligations of social media owners, including the requirement to moderate social media content and publish social media rules, with violators facing fines for failing to comply.
- A law on the processing of “distributable” or “publicly available data” that defines specific rules for public distribution and use of personal data, including consents and data subject requests.
For further analysis of these laws and other legislation developments in Russia, refer to this detailed summary created by Anastasia Kiseleva, Ksenia Andreeva, and Anastasia Dergacheva.