Putin signs into law bills obliging operators to store talks content

MOSCOW, Jul 7 (PRIME) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law antiterrorist bills, which oblige communications and Internet companies to store users’ talks, messages and other content, presidential press-secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday.

“Along with the package, a list of orders for the government was also signed to monitor the course of fulfilment, implementation of the law strictly in order to minimize, if required, possible risks related to financial expenses, exploitation of domestic equipment to store information and so forth,” Peskov said.

“If needed, (the government) put forward the initiatives to adopt corresponding measures to minimize the risks.”

Under the law, operators must store information on calls, text messages, photos, sounds and video exchange on the country’s territory for three years and content of talks and correspondence for up to six months. Internet companies must keep this information for one year.

Communications operators said earlier that the measure would double or triple tariffs for users. Business ombudsman Boris Titov said the move would be an economic stupidity.

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