The Risks of Russia’s data localisation laws

The Geopolitics of Sovereign Data

CASE STUDIES

SUMMARY: This piece examines Russia's 2015 data localization law, which mandates that the personal data of Russian citizens be processed and stored on servers within the country's borders. The article argues that while presented as a data sovereignty measure, the law imposes significant compliance costs on foreign technology companies, potentially acting as a "self-imposed sanction" that could drive away investment. It concludes that this policy risks isolating Russia from the global digital economy, which could negatively impact its long-term economic growth and political stability.

REFERENCE: This summary was AI generated. Full text originally published as: Tim Stevens, “The risks of Russia’s data localisation laws,” Sovereign Data Vol. 1, No. 4 (October 2015). ISSN: 2059-075X.


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