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Facebook is to meet with Russia’s Federation Сouncil

Representatives of social network and lawmakers expected to discuss personal information, taxation issues

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, August 19. (Itar-Tass) – Facebook management is proposing a meeting with Russia’s Federation Council in order to discuss regarding confidentiality of personal information. Ruslan Gattarov, Chairman of the Federation Council’s Provisionary Committee on Development of Knowledge Society, told Itar-Tass that he has received a letter signed by Thomas Myrup Kristensen, Facebook’s GR director, in which the senator was asked for a meeting August 22.

Gattarov said that he expected the meeting to touch upon a “wide range of issues, including possible instances of Facebook giving access to its servers storing personal data to third parties (specifically, U.S. intelligence agencies), as was reported by mass media, based on leaked information provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.”

The senator added that he would like to discuss results of a legal analysis of Facebook’s personal information policy, which indicates potential violation of Russian and international legislation, as well as prospects for opening a Russian branch of the company’s offices. Gattarov believes that “absence of Russian headquarters makes it impossible for Facebook to participate in open dialogue with the government on par with other internet companies regarding regulation of internet relations; in essence, this renders constructive communication in Russia futile.”

Senator Gattarov hopes to discuss advertisement revenue and taxation. “Facebook earning profits for placing advertisements paid for by Russian companies may be regarded as creating circumstances which lead to undermining Russia’s tax revenue.”

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