Facebook has been threatened with a block in Russia if it doesn't comply with the country's local data storage rules. Alexander Zharov, head of the country's Roskomnadzor regulator, says the social network must store user data within the country or else a block will be implemented.
The law is mandatory for everyone. Either we will [have it] applied or the company will stop operating in Russia.- Zharov
Even though the network is popular in the country, Zharov says it's not a "unique service" and therefore it needs to comply with the rules like any other company. Russia began enforcing the applicable legislation a couple years ago.