Russia's telecom and communications regulator Roskomnadzor has announced it has banned world's largest professional network LinkedIn over court ruling that it violates the law of the land to store the personal data of Russians only in the country.
The IT watchdog of Russia has ordered internet service providers to block public access to LinkedIn saying that it doesn't obey the country's law to store the personal data of Russian citizens only on Russian servers.
[READ: Will Russia block LinkedIn for violating data-localisation law?]
"Based on the court's ruling that entered into force, the LinkedIn social network has been included in the registry of those violating the rights of personal data owners and is to be blocked by telecommunications operators," Roskomnadzor said in a statement, according to Russian news agency TASS.
The Moscow City Court last week rejected LinkedIn's appeal against its blocking in Russia. The website, which is headquartered in the United States, said it is the LinkedIn Ireland company and not the LinkedIn Corporation that is responsible for storing the personal data, but Roskomnadzor held LinkedIn Corporation responsible for all information offered by the professional network.
There are more than six million registered users of LinkedIn in Russia, which means millions of people will be affected by the move. The website had earlier said that blocking its access will not only affect millions of Russian members but also companies that use it to grow their businesses.
LinkedIn has more than 400 million accounts, out of which more than 100 million are active. Microsoft bought the website for $26.2 billion in June 2016.
[Source: TASS]
