PRESS: Russia’s personal data law can have exceptions

MOSCOW, Jun 25 (PRIME) -- Some industries regulated by international or industry laws will not be controlled by the Russian law obliging Internet companies to store Russians’ personal data on the country’s territory, business daily Vedomosti reported Thursday, quoting Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov.

The law has exceptions, Vadim Ampelonsky, spokesman for the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media, said.

The law on personal data, which will come in force on September 1, says that personal data is any information about Russians that is used for registration on Web sites for online purchases and sending mail.

In March, the Air Transport Operators’ Association said that new requirement could halt sales of online air ticket sales. It asked business ombudsman Boris Titov to support a revision of the initiative for airlines or delay its approval.

Airline tickets are booked via global systems Amadeus, Gabriel, Sabre and Galileo and data are stored worldwide, according to international requirements, the association’s President Vladimir Tasun said. It is impossible to receive approval of owners of these systems to transfer data to Russia by September 1.

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