Russia is preparing to incorporate a new law that could put Facebook, Twitter, and Google out of business in the country. This is very huge because Google has around 30 million users in Russia, Facebook with 20 million, and Twitter with around 5 million.
The law, which was passed on Sept. 24, requires all Internet companies that operate in Russia to store the data of all Russian users within the country. Furthermore, the data stored should be retained for six months just in case Russian authorities are interested in accessing it for crime investigation or other legal purposes.
If companies fail to comply with these demands, the Russian government has all the rights to ban these companies from operating in Russia. With the conflict going on in Ukraine and pressure from the West, it is possible that Google, Facebook and Twitter might not see it financially viable to invest in Russia by creating server farms in the country.
This could cause all these companies to be forced to leave Russia. However, it would come down to whether or not the targeted companies are willing to give up millions of users in favor of politics; 30 million users for Google and 20 million for Facebook are far too many users to simply throw aside, so pushing Russia aside might not be a good idea.
On the other hand, if it does come to it, Russians would be just fine. The country has its own search engine powerhouse in the form of Yandex with a reported 90 million users. When it comes to social network, Russia has the homegrown VKontakte with 220 million users.
We understand that Google is in talks with the government as the company is willing to meet the new law halfway, or not at all. Unless the Russians give special preferences to some companies, it is highly likely Google might choose to leave.
By the numbers, it is clear that most Russians would not feel too badly if Facebook and Google were kicked out of the country. We can't say the same for Twitter as Russia does not have a competing service.
Why is Russia pressuring foreign Internet companies?
Apparently it is about security, as the Russians are claiming to be protecting itself and its people from possible U.S. and European propaganda and other tools that might destabilize the country.
"A fair share of unpredictability has arisen in the recent actions of our partners in the U.S. and Europe, and we must be prepared for all situations," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the independent Interfax agency last week.
"We know [who] the main administrator of the global Internet is," he added, alluding to the U.S. "And due to this unpredictability, we have to think about how to ensure our own national security."
