UPDATE2: Putin signs bills obliging operators to store content

(Adds comments from minister, operators in last seven paragraphs)

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.”

Stocks of mobile operators MTS and MegaFon plunged on the Moscow Exchange on the news. MTS lost 3.3% by 1.15 p.m. Moscow time, and MegaFon 1.7%.

Putin ordered to prepare a report on volumes of financial expenses required to organize production of domestic software and equipment to store voice information under the new law by September 1.

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.

Communications and Mass Media Minister Nikolai Nikiforov said content storage under the new law should be deliberated jointly with the industry and returned in September–November to the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house.

Duma’s specialized committee “did not quite have the time” to consider the bills and take into account position of the industry and the ministry, and there are still many questions. The president, however, ordered to pay attention to these issues, Nikiforov said.

“We’re satisfied that the ministry’s position was heard, and along with signing of the law. The Russian president drew a list of orders to the government. They stipulate further work on certain matters and preparation, if required, of detailed amendments regarding the application of the regulations,” the minister said.

“Amendments could be studied by the government and presented to the State Duma for adoption during the autumn session. It wraps up the current discussions.”

VimpelCom and T2 RTK Holding said they will ask the government to discuss the law.

“We will use all opportunities for dialogue with the government on the law,” T2 RTK Holding’s press secretary Olga Galushina said.

VimpelCom’s spokeswoman Anna Aybasheva said the company hopes for a constructive dialogue with the government. “Operators have repeatedly talked all about risks carried by the law in its current wording,” she said.

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