Tinder, Twitch fined in Russia for refusing to localize data, 5 September 2023

In two separate rulings...the Tagansky District Court in the Russian capital fined Match Group 10 million roubles ($103,100) and Twitch 13 million roubles ($134,000).

Both companies were accused of violating Part 9 of Article 13.11 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offense, which requires local and foreign companies to store personal data of Russian nationals on Russian soil.

The law targets even those companies that don't have a physical presence in Russia but whose activities are still thought to be aimed at the Russian territory.

Cybernews has contacted both Match Group and Twitch for comment...

Match Group, which also owns dating apps Hinge and PlentyOfFish, left the Russian market on June 30th, citing human rights concerns...

In accordance with US and EU sanctions against Russia, Twitch started blocking transactions to Russia-based streamers...and has taken steps to remove pro-Russian content...

The live-streaming platform has been repeatedly fined by Russian courts for spreading what Moscow considers “fake news” about its war in Ukraine – most recently in August, when it was slapped a 3 million rouble ($31,785) fine...