Russia: Announced Roskomnadzor lawsuit against WhatsApp LLC for failure to comply with Federal Law No. 149-FZ

On 22 January 2024, Roskomnadzor announced its lawsuit against WhatsApp LLC for failure to comply with Federal Law No. 149-FZ. WhatsApp LLC is alleged to have committed an administrative offence under Part 1.1 of Art. 13.31 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offences. The Article punishes Internet communications organisers' failure to comply with their obligation to submit to federal authorities the information necessary for decoding incoming, outgoing, arriving and/or processed electronic communications with an administrative fine up to RUB 1 million.