Facebook may be blocked in Russia

UFA, 26 September 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Alim Faizov/. Alexander Zharov, the head of Roskomnadzor (Federal Supervision Agency for Information Technologies and Communications), threatened the American social network Facebook with a blocking in the territory of Russia in case the company did not comply with the law on the storage of personal data, the media report.

According to the head of the department, Facebook is obliged to bring its work in the country in accordance with the legislation by 2018.

"The law is mandatory for everyone. In any case, we will either ensure that the law is implemented, or the company ceases to work in the territory of the Russian Federation", Zharov said.

He also recalled that a similar situation had developed with the social network for establishing business contacts LinkedIn. Zharov promised to meet deadlines to solve the problem and added that Facebook was a popular but not unique social network.

Representatives of the company, according to the head of Roskomnadzor, are considering possible options, but have not yet sent official letters.

The law on personal data obliges to store personal data of Russians in the territory of the country. Roskomnadzor includes the websites - infringers of the law into a special register and in case of refusal to eliminate the violation – blocks them. So, last year the agency blocked the social network LinkedIn.