The Russian regulator Roskomnadzor has published a list of foreign internet companies that should open representative offices in Russia.
It consists of 13 foreign companies that own 22 information resources and, according to Sostav include Google, Meta and Apple.
Roskomnadzor says this follows the enactment of the law “On the activities of foreign persons in the information and telecommunication network internet on the territory of the Russian Federation” on July 1. It states that foreign internet companies with a daily audience of more than 500,000 users l have to open their own authorised representative offices on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The regulator adds that in addition to the requirement to establish a branch/representative office/Russian legal entity from January 1, 2022, the law imposes a number of responsibilities on foreign persons. So, they must place on their website an electronic feedback form with Russian users, register a personal account on the Roskomnadzor website for interacting with authorities and install a recommended attendance counter on the information resource.
Foreign persons are also obliged to restrict access to information that violates Russian law.
