Moscow court slaps 1st $54,040 fine on WhatsApp for refusal to localize user data

Moscow, Aug 26 (Bureau) 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 totaled 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 offense 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.