A Primer On Russia 's New Data Localization Law

"Russia 's new data localization law, Federal Law No. 242-FZ, an amendment to Russia 's On Personal Data Law goes into effect on September 1, 2015 and it may have wide reaching implications on firms that collect personal information from Russian citizens, even if those companies are not located in Russia. The law requires ""operators"" to collect, store, and process Russian citizens ' personal data using databases located within Russia. Since the law does not explicitly exempt foreign companies from its requirements, companies outside of Russia should assume that Russia 's Roskomnadzor, the state body that oversees Telecommunications, information technology, and mass communication will interpret the law to apply equally to foreign companies that collect, store, and|or process the personal data of Russian citizens."