Streaming platform Twitch has been fined 2 million rubles, or about $37,700, by Moscow courts for allegedly refusing to store personal information about Russian citizens there.
Russia fined numerous major tech firms, including Twitch, Pinterest, Airbnb, and the United Parcel Service, on June 28th. (UPS). While UPS received a 1 million ruble fine, Twitch, Pinterest, and Airbnb each received 2 million ruble fines for allegedly failing to store Russian citizen data locally.
The conflict between Russia and big tech is not new, though. Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, the nation has made an effort to cut off access to the internet from the rest of the world.
Twitch and Russia have already clashed over the platform’s sanctions that prevented Russian streamers from being paid.
As retaliation, the Russian government has taken steps to completely outlaw the video livestreaming platform inside its borders.
A UPS representative told Reuters in an interview that the business is currently reviewing the Moscow court’s ruling. Airbnb, Pinterest, and Twitch have all yet to make an official statement regarding the situation.
The ongoing legal disputes between Russia and tech companies are only exacerbated by these new fines. The Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor announced in late May that Apple was the subject of an active investigation by Moscow and that any other violators could face fines ranging from 1 to 6 million rubles.
Russia is still attacking hugely significant Western tech companies as it continues its military invasion of Ukraine, which has now lasted 120 days. Russia’s legal disputes with more and more businesses make it uncertain whether any of the fines it has been issued will be paid.
