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MyHeritage plans to delete the personal data of Russian testers
#1
Bad news for genealogists:

Quote:Genealogy Platform MyHeritage Suspends Services in Russia

Israel-based genealogy platform MyHeritage is suspending services in Russia and plans to delete the personal data of Russian users, independent media reported Tuesday, citing emails that clients received from the company.
“Due to local regulations in Russia, MyHeritage is required to stop providing its services in Russia and to stop hosting personal data of Russian users,” read a message of one client shared on social media.
The company informed users that all accounts and associated data of Russian clients would be permanently deleted by Feb. 1, 2025.
“We encourage you to export your family tree data and/or DNA, should you wish to keep it,” the message added.
Founded in 2003 by Israeli entrepreneur Gilad Japhet, MyHeritage provides genealogy services through an international records database and genetic testing.
In 2022, Russian authorities fined MyHeritage 1.5 million rubles ($13,186) for failing to comply with laws requiring user data to be stored on servers located in Russia.
Russia’s data localization law applies to both domestic and foreign companies and has led to restrictions on platforms such as LinkedIn, which was blocked in 2016 for non-compliance.
The Moscow Times contacted MyHeritage for comment, but the company did not immediately respond.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/12/3...sia-a87493

To suspend delivering new kits is one thing, but to delete existing users is a very different one. It is a horrible decision.

For those of us which have Russian matches at MyHeritage, its probably recommendable to safe the data you want to keep. If you are Russian, download your raw data and safe it, upload it to other platforms to keep in touch with the community.
Albruic, Geo, Rufus191 And 1 others like this post
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#2
Why not delete all french and jewish samples because genetic tests are banned there too?
K36 52%Kivutkalns153, K13 25% North Atlantic, 45% Baltic, MTA 20% Svear
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#3
(01-02-2025, 04:06 PM)Geo Wrote: Why not delete all french and jewish samples because genetic tests are banned there too?

It seems like Russian goverment has not made it easy. I guess MyHeritage don't want to spend the money hosting data in Russia specifially for Russian users. Better download data and upload to GEDMATCH, LivingDNA, FTDNA if you do not already have kits on there.
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#4
(01-02-2025, 04:14 PM)Rufus191 Wrote:
(01-02-2025, 04:06 PM)Geo Wrote: Why not delete all french and jewish samples because genetic tests are banned there too?

It seems like Russian goverment has not made it easy. I guess MyHeritage don't want to spend the money hosting data in Russia specifially for Russian users. Better download data and upload to GEDMATCH, LivingDNA, FTDNA if you do not already have kits on there.

I think the last initiative doesn't come from russian government.
Government banned tests which made overseas but never banned uploading to non-russian sites. So it's definitely malicious action solely by Myheritage.

I will never delete my tests from myheritage, geni, familytreedna because I have about 2000+ matches( with just 10-20% of members with russian origin) and there are about 100 40-50 cM non-russian relatives.
Vpn and gmail helps a lot.
Riverman, Rufus191, keplerhubble like this post
K36 52%Kivutkalns153, K13 25% North Atlantic, 45% Baltic, MTA 20% Svear
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