AKIT Requests Temporary Permission for Russian Companies to Transfer Personal Data Abroad After Data Center Incidents
The Association of Internet Trade Companies (AKIT) has proposed allowing Russian companies hit by accidents or damage to data centers to temporarily relocate critical systems and personal data of Russian citizens to facilities in friendly countries.
According to the letter sent to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on October 15, the association seeks a temporary exception from Russia's data localization requirements. The proposal covers members such as Ozon, Wildberries, Cooper, and Yandex Market, which argue that online services must remain operational even when domestic infrastructure is unavailable.
The suggested special regime would be triggered only after an officially confirmed incident that makes it impossible to run systems inside Russia. Companies would still need to meet information security requirements, and the list of permitted countries would be defined by an authorized government body in coordination with the Ministry of Digital Development and Roskomnadzor.
Under the plan, the exception would remain in force only until infrastructure is restored, but no later than March 1, 2028. Once systems are back online in Russia, organizations would be required to revert to standard data processing rules.
Privacy expert Alexey Muntyan pointed out that the proposed mechanism activates only after an incident has already occurred, whereas proper redundancy planning should happen in advance. He also questioned the reliance on political "friendliness" rather than objective assessments of data protection standards in destination countries.
Related articles
Kaspersky Container Security Earns FSTEC Russia Certification as Antivirus Protection Tool
Kaspersky Container Security has received official certification from FSTEC Russia under certificate number 5122 dated October 23, 2026. The product was validated as a means of antivirus protection and meets the regulator’s requirements at the fourth level of trust. It also complies with the protection profile of type B for the fourth class, designated IT.SAVZ.B4.PZ. The certification enables deployment of the solution in government information systems, personal data processing environments, critical information infrastructure facilities, and industrial control systems. Specific usage must still align with individual system requirements and the conditions stated in the certificate. The solution has been listed in the Russian software registry maintained by the Ministry of Digital Development since 2023. Primary audiences include government agencies, large enterprises, and industrial operators that rely on containerized workloads inside regulated perimeters.
Russian Lawmaker Clarifies Apple and Microsoft ORI Registry Listing Does Not Ban Products
State Duma deputy Anton Nemkin stated that the inclusion of Apple and Microsoft in Russia's ORI registry imposes standard data retention obligations without automatically prohibiting their products. The registry entry requires companies to store user information and message exchange records in Russia for three years and message content for up to six months. Nemkin emphasized that these rules apply equally to Russian and foreign digital market participants regardless of business scale or country of registration. The companies were added on October 2, 2026, while Google Meet has been listed since January 26. Although the status mandates data provision to authorized bodies in legally defined cases, the listing itself does not confirm that corporations will share Russian users' correspondence with the state. Non-compliance may trigger separate regulatory measures, but the deputy urged against exaggerating consequences through sensational headlines.
Russia Hands Out 2.2 Million Rubles in Data Leak Fines During First Half of 2026
Russian companies received 13 fines totaling 2.195 million rubles for personal data leaks between January and June 2026, according to new research from InfoWatch. This amount represents a 1.6-fold increase compared to the entire previous year, when total fines reached only 1.385 million rubles. The study shows that Russian penalties accounted for roughly 11 percent of the 115 global fines recorded during the same period. Approximately one quarter of the Russian cases involved violations caused by employee negligence. Organizations in the IT and information security, industrial, and trade sectors were fined most frequently. InfoWatch notes that turnover-based fines have not yet been applied and expects broader enforcement to begin in 2027.
Fines for Telegram Advertising May Be Delayed Beyond Transition Period
Russian authorities are reportedly considering delaying enforcement of new fines targeting advertisers in Telegram after the end of the announced transition period. According to sources cited by the Post- outlet, the government has not yet reached a clear decision on practical application of the advertising ban. Law enforcement agencies are also said to have stepped back from demanding strict punitive measures. Without official confirmation, advertisers and channel owners continue to operate under existing rules. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) had previously signaled stricter oversight starting in 2027, but current indications point to a possible extension of the status quo. Industry participants are advised to monitor developments closely as the situation remains fluid.