Twitter could be thinking of storing some of its data in Russia. The company could actually be considering storing data belonging to Russian users, within the country. The news comes from TechCrunch, according to which, the company is currently in the process of determining which information can be stored within Russian borders.
Reportedly, the Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor has managed to reach an agreement with Twitter wherein, the latter will transfer all data belonging to the country’s citizens by the middle of 2018. As per Roskomndazor chief, Alexander Zharov, they are currently:
In the process of determining what information about Russian citizens and organizations in commercial relations with Twitter in Russia can be stored in the Russian Federation.
At present, Twitter does not store any data within Russian borders. However, the company is not unique in doing so. Various other tech companies have also declined keeping data in the country. However, Russia has exhibited a very aggressive stance and regulators have started banning Internet companies that don’t comply with its rules. Indeed, Russia has been forcing tech behemoths to their knees all the time, over this and other compliance issues. For instance, Google recently agreed to allow competitors over the Android platform. LinkedIn didn’t agree with demands to store its data within the country and ended up getting blocked.
The block was continued after LinkedIn again refused to comply with data localization demands. The block could well be what’s making Twitter so cautious and compliant in its dealings. LinkedIn might afford to get blocked in a country, but Twitter is going through a crucial phase for its business and as such, it might be thinking twice about getting on the wrong side of Russian regulators.
Twitter is also conducting a special review of where it stores data belonging to Russian advertisers.
