Min: Russian govt not to spend money on data retention laws

RUSSKY ISLAND, Primorsky Region/VLADIVOSTOK, Sep 2 (PRIME) -- The Russian government will not spend money on the execution of the anti-terrorism laws obliging telecom and Internet operators to store metadata and content of users’ talks and correspondence, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

“All suggestions and amendments, which are stipulated by the laws imply the use of Russian equipment by private operators. It does not provide for state expenses,” Manturov said.

Russian Post and the Communications Ministry are also discussing the laws, which oblige postal operators to install special equipment to prevent deliveries of arms, explosives or any other banned substances.

“We are discussing today with the communications ministry the laws from the point of view of correct reading to identify necessary additional steps on our part to fully comply with the legislation,” Russian Post General Director Dmitry Strashnov said.

The national postal operator said earlier the measure would require over 500 billion rubles to equip its 42,000 branches scattered across the country with scanning devices and over 100 billion rubles annually for their maintenance and salaries. The laws, however, do not mean all branches, as it was reported later.

The package of much-criticized laws, signed by President Vladimir Putin in early July, also obliges operators to provide special service with an access to stored data upon demand.

(65.2566 rubles – U.S. $1)

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