Page 144 - RusRPTMay21

proposal would instead simply serve as another stick to encourage foreign firms to open offices in Russia. If tech companies don’t have local offices, they likely don’t use servers located in the country either. And Roskomnadzor could use this as yet another justification to slow down or block access to certain websites that provoke the authorities’ ire.
Meanwhile, the government is considering proposals to mandate that websites giver users the option to turn off their “recommendation” functions. The proposal comes from a good place: the head of the commission responsible for the initiative explains that companies use these algorithms to aggressively market products to consumers and immerse users in information bubbles that reinforce their preexisting beliefs.
But there may also be ulterior motives to the suggestion. United Russia deputy Anton Gorelkin, of limiting foreign ownership in Russian internet companies fame, noted that during a Duma election year Western social media networks will use their recommendation algorithms to suggest content that sours public opinion in Russia. He specifically called out Facebook. Meanwhile, former PM Dmitry Medvedev has made a similar argument about Twitter, arguing that the site promotes Alexey Navalny’s tweets and is thus interfering in the internal affairs of a foreign country.
If advanced, the proposal would apply to websites that have 100,000 users per day and process data on over 500,000 Russians. Industry representatives warn that it could be a death blow to some firms, which are designed entirely around their algorithms, like ad services, online streaming services, and e-retailers.
Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) has fined Apple $12.1 million for limiting competition in its app store. The fine stems from a complaint that cybersecurity firm Kaspersky filed against Apple in 2019. Kaspersky claimed that Apple prevented it from updating its Safe Kids parental control app while launching a similar service in Screen Time. The FAS ruled in Kaspersky’s favor. In addition to the $12 million fine, the FAS has ordered Apple to remove the condition that it can “reject third-party applications from the App Store for any reason, even if they meet all requirements” from its terms. Apple is appealing the decision, however, so the FAS’ order it temporary suspended.
144 RUSSIA Country Report May 2021 www.intellinews.com