Roskomnadzor has announced the possibility of restricting the operations of eight large foreign hosting providers, which include Go Daddy, Hostgator, Kamatra, Ionos, Network Solutions, Digitalocean, Amazon Web Services, and Hetzner Online. The reason behind this potential limitation is the risks associated with data storage and ensuring the availability of resources located on their servers.
The agency pointed out that foreign hosting platforms can halt servicing resources at any time, citing internal corporate decisions or political circumstances, resulting in sites becoming inaccessible. Additionally, it was noted that information stored on such servers could be vulnerable to hacking, and some resources are utilized to circumvent restrictions and distribute prohibited content.
In April 2024, Roskomnadzor had previously restricted access to certain foreign providers due to their failure to comply with the requirements of the “On Landing” Law. While back then it involved blocking websites, the current consideration is focused on the potential limitation of the services themselves. These measures are attributed to recent legislative changes that have heightened the demands placed on hosting providers operating in Russia.
Starting from the beginning of 2024, a register of hosting providers has been established, obligating companies to declare the provision of services within the country. Foreign entities like Godaddy had exited the Russian market in 2023 without submitting applications for inclusion in the register. Consequently, clients of these providers have transitioned to Russian platforms, significantly reducing the impact of such restrictions on the market.
The register comprises companies offering services for equipment, data, and site hosting, and its establishment forms part of endeavors to enhance digital sovereignty. Entities excluded from the list were mandated to cease operations in Russia effective February 1, 2024.