Yandex’s Ride-Sharing App In Dutch Data Protection Cross-Hairs

Yango, the ride-hailing app owned by the Russian tech group Yandex NV, has initiated discussions with the Dutch Data Protection Agency to demonstrate its commitment to compliance with European data transfer and storage regulations.

This move comes after Finnish and Norwegian regulators had previously considered banning Yango from transferring data to Russia over concerns about potential access by security services, a decision that was later reversed, as reported by Reuters.

The Dutch Data Protection Agency has now also confirmed its investigation into Yango, though details about the inquiry and its timeline remain undisclosed. Yandex, sometimes referred to as “Russia’s Google,” is Nasdaq-listed but operates under Dutch registration, reported Reuters.

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A spokesperson for the Dutch Data Protection Agency emphasized the agency’s ongoing scrutiny, while Yango defended its data practices. Yango stated that the Finnish and Norwegian investigations indicated that its personal data processing does not immediately jeopardize the fundamental rights and freedoms of European users. The company reassured that user data on the platform cannot be accessed by Russian authorities outside of established international procedures, such as those involving Interpol.

Meanwhile, Yandex is in the process of separating its core Russian businesses from its international operations registered in the Netherlands.

Source: Reuters