Top Russian internet firm reportedly under pressure on data

MOSCOW – Russia’s leading internet company says it’s committed to data privacy as it responds to reports that the national intelligence agency is pressuring it into handing over encryption keys.

Yandex, which runs Russia’s most popular search engine and email service, among other things, on Tuesday did not refute or deny the reports of pressure from Russian authorities. But it said that Russia’s recent law on online security can be enforced without infringing on user privacy.

Russia has adopted a flurry of legislation in recent years aimed at expanding the government’s control over the internet.

Yandex’s statement came a day after the Russian communications regulator said that it is now requiring dating app Tinder to hand over data on its users.