According to Russian news agencies, a Russian court has levied fines on three foreign companies, amounting to a total of 15 million roubles ($163,200), citing repeated non-compliance with data storage regulations.
The court fined the U.S.-based package delivery company United Parcel Service 3 million roubles, while the homestay marketplace Airbnb and streaming service Spotify Technology were each fined 6 million roubles ($65,300).
Requests for comments from the three companies remained unanswered at the time of reporting.
The dispute between Moscow and foreign companies has been ongoing, focusing on issues such as content, censorship, data, and the requirement for local representation. Tensions escalated after Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.