MyHeritage to Cease Genealogy Services in Russia and Erase User Data by February 2025

The Israeli genealogy platform MyHeritage is halting its services in Russia and plans to delete the personal data of Russian users, according to the Dozhd channel  citing emails sent to clients by the company.

The message states that by February 1, 2025, the data of Russian users will be deleted from the servers. The company advised users to export their family tree data or DNA test results.

“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 the message of one client shared by the channel.

MyHeritage, established in 2003 by Israeli entrepreneur Gilad Japhet, offers genealogy services through a global database of records and genetic testing.

In January 2022, the company was fined 1.5 million rubles for refusing to store Russian users' data on servers within the country. In October 2023, it faced another fine of 6 million rubles for the same violation.

A Financial Times investigation, published on December 30, revealed that Russian smugglers are charging fees to transport luxury vehicles from Europe to Russia, circumventing EU sanctions aimed at targeting Moscow's wealthier elite.