State Duma will protect citizens’ personal data

The State Duma adopted, in the first reading, an amendment to the law on personal data that clarifies the cross-border transfer of personal data. If the bill is finally adopted, Russia will consider the level of protection sufficient if foreign countries have not only ratified the Council of Europe Convention No. 108 for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data, but also taken concrete, practical measures to protect personal data.

Current legislation stipulates that personal data can be securely transferred to countries that have ratified this convention. However, the bill's authors emphasize that foreign countries do not always take sufficient measures to protect personal data, even if they have signed the document.

The explanatory note to the bill also notes that its adoption will help fully realize Russian citizens' constitutional right to privacy.

Author: Elina Akhmetova