Signed on June 26, 2018, and published two days later, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has issued a government order requiring Internet companies to start storing a vast array of user data. The requirements, established as part of Russia’s “anti-terrorism” Yarovaya law, apply to users’ text-based, audio, and visual correspondence dating back six months. Internet companies must make these archives available to Russian law enforcement, if requested. The requirements take effect on July 1.
Photo on the front page: Gleb Garanich / Reuters / Scanpix / LETA