A Russian court has issued fines to Match Group, the company behind Tinder, and Twitch, a streaming platform owned by Amazon, due to their non-compliance with Russian data localisation regulations. The Tagansky District Court in Moscow has imposed a 10 million roubles ($104,000) fine on Match Group and a 13 million roubles ($135,000) fine on Twitch. These penalties are the result of their repeated refusal to store the personal data of Russian users on Russian servers, as mandated by Russian law. Similar fines had been levied against both companies in the previous year.

Match Group, which also possesses dating apps like Hinge and PlentyOfFish, withdrew from the Russian market in June, citing concerns about human rights. Twitch, on the other hand, has incurred fines for disseminating 'false information' regarding Ukraine conflict and has taken measures to halt transactions to Russian streamers.

Why does this matter?

This case serves as a reminder of the evolving landscape of data privacy and localisation laws, affecting both tech companies and the protection of user data. It reflects the broader geopolitical landscape, where countries are asserting control over data and digital services within their borders. This trend may impact the strategies and decisions of multinational tech companies.