WhatsApp, Snap and others fined by Russia, here’s why

A Russian court on Thursday fined Meta Platforms Inc’s WhatsApp messenger, Snapchat owner Snap Inc and other foreign firms for their alleged refusal to store the data of Russian users domestically.
Moscow has clashed with Big Tech over content, censorship, data and local representation in disputes that have escalated since Russia sent its armed forces into Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Moscow’s Tagansky District Court fined WhatsApp 18 million roubles ($301,255) for a repeat offence after it incurred a 4 million rouble penalty last August. WhatsApp’s fine exceeded the 15 million rouble penalty handed to Alphabet Inc’s Google for a repeat infringement last month.