Russia adds Opera, Vimeo to organizers of information distribution

MOSCOW, May 11 (PRIME) -- The Russian communications watchdog has added to its register of information distribution organizers Norway’s Opera and U.S. video hosting Vimeo, according to a statement of RosKomSvoboda, a public organization fighting against censure in the Web, seen by PRIME on Thursday.

The list also included messenger Snaappy, registered on the Seychelles Islands, but with a Russian-speaking interface and about one million users.

The companies on the register must collect, store, and provide information on their users to special services on their request. At the moment, the information comprises only metadata, but, under the data retention law, it will include internal correspondence and exchanged files, starting from July 1, 2018.

The individuals and companies that refuse to acknowledge themselves as organizers of information distribution can be blocked, like such messengers as WeChat, BlackBerry, Imo, and Line.

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