Moscow: WhatsApp messenger got its first-ever fine in Russia for refusing to localize personal user data, the fine imposed by Moscow’s Tagansky district court totalled 4 million rubles ($54,040), Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor said on Thursday.
“A fine of 4 million rubles was imposed on WhatsApp by a court ruling under Part 8 of Article 13.11 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses,” Roskomnadzor said in a statement.
The maximum fine for this offence for legal entities can reach 6 million rubles.
In addition, the court imposed a 17 million ruble fine on Twitter and a 15 million ruble fine on Facebook for their recurrent refusals to localize data.