Russian pres aide sees no grounds yet to delay data storage laws

MOSCOW, Jul 20 (PRIME) -- Russian presidential aide for the Internet German Klimenko said late Tuesday it is still premature to raise an issue of delaying the moment of obliging communications operators to store content of subscribers’ talks and correspondence under the recently adopted laws.

A senator earlier submitted a bill to the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house, seeking to put off coming into force of the laws, initiated by deputy Irina Yarovaya, until July 1, 2023, from the currently stipulated July 1, 2018.

“As a matter of fact, nobody knowns anything about Yarovaya’s laws. We could speak about any delays or expansions only if you understand the problem,” Klimenko told reporters.

“At present, since the matter is in the hands of the government, I think we should speak first to the government how they see the problem.”

In their current reading, the laws oblige telecom operators to keep records of subscribers’ talks and correspondence for three years, starting from July 20, currently stored for about six months; and their content – like voice calls and texts – for up to six months, starting from July 1, 2018. Internet companies must retain data for a year and content for up to six months.

Internet giant Yandex’s press secretary Asya Melkumova said the proposed five-year delay does not clarify the initiative, which still has vague points, to which the industry indicates.

An order of storage and volumes are obscure, as these issues will be determined by separate government regulations, she said.

Mobile operator VimpelCom’s press secretary Anna Aybasheva said the company welcomes the proposed delay regarding storage of talks and correspondence.

“With view of technical complexity of the project, which does not have any precedents, a delay in time looks sound and logical. In addition to production of equipment, it should be purchased and delivered after being certified and tested on networks and so forth to avoid any troubles for the networks’ sustainably and integrity,” she said.

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