Russia has increasingly regulated the internet through laws requiring data localization, anti-piracy legislation, and laws governing media outlets and censorship. The data localization law, effective September 2015, requires personal data of Russian citizens be stored on servers within Russia's borders, raising concerns about ease of government access to data and additional costs for foreign companies. While some see this as a reaction to mass surveillance by the US and a matter of sovereignty, others argue it undermines the global and resilient nature of the internet and creates barriers to competition through protectionism. The implications for internet governance and Russia's approach to internet development and regulation going forward remain to be seen.

1. Internet governance
as geopolItIcal battleground.
case study:
russIa’s data localIzatIon
requIrements
Fedor smIrnov,
Isoc russIa chapter
2015 annenberg-oxFord
medIa polIcy summer InstItute

2. regulatory season
on the russian Internet
2012 2013 2014
100
80
60
40
20
0
49
75
87

3. Key Initiatives on Internet regulation
in russia (2012-2015)
black lists
(436-Fz)
blocking of web-sites
child pornography,
drug propaganda,
extremism
russian sopa
(187-Fz)
anti-piracy legislation
blocking of web-sites
copyright infringement
bloggers law
(97-Fz)
any site with > 3000
visitorsconsidered
as media outlet
data
localization
(242-Fz)
personal data
of russian citizens
on the servers within
country’s borders
right to
be forgotten
links to be removed
from search results
2012 2013 2014 2014 2015

4. beyond the headlines

5. data localization requirement
personal data of russian citizens
databases within country’s borders
not-compliant websites
blocked without notice
effective on september, 1 2016 2015!

6. raise awareness on personal data
react to “mass surveillance” (from u.s.)
prevent personal data being stored overseas
more attention to personal data?

7. easy access to personal data for russian authorities
challenge for foreign companies
protectionism on the local hosting market
Just another method to limit freedom of information
What’s behind good Intentions?

8. sovereignty of the russian Internet
possible disconnection from the global Internet
(as a result of sanctions)
measure to protect against foreign threats
geopolitical background
in online policymaking

9. What are the Implications?
technical:
break fundamental principles of the Internet
as global and resilient network
economic
barriers to global competition
additional costs > $5.7 billion
negative impact on investment

10. What’s next?
Wait-and-see approach
trying to comply…
twitter, paypal, google, Facebook…
Watch the law enforcement practice

11. Internet governance? I don’t care!
Internet society chapter in russia:
chartered in 2013, active since 2015
roundtable on data localization (rIgF’2015)
Isoc, raec, IetF, microsoft…
controversial opinions, but no real opposition

12. state-centric approach for Internet
development in russia
Institute for Internet development (ngo) – received
governmental approval
tasked to prepare proposals by putin till october, 1 2015
expert community in formation (based on raec)
legitimization of further regulatory activities

13. questions?
thank you!
web: www.isocru.org
e-mail: info@isocru.org