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VK (formerly Mail.ru)

  • Internet & social media, Technology: General
  • Russia

  • VKontakte (VK) is an online social media and social networking service headquartered in Russia. VK is available in multiple languages, but it is predominantly used by Russian speakers. VK users can message each other publicly or privately, create groups, public pages, and events; share and tag images, audio, and video; and play browser-based games. Vkontakte was formerly known as Mail.Ru.

From the Resource Centre ? This section is a non-exhaustive snapshot of company behaviour recorded by the Resource Centre. We record allegations of abuse, seek company responses, profile lawsuits, and record attacks against Defenders working on business issues.

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HRD Attacks

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Lawsuit Profiles

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Allegations

Indicators

Global Network Initiative ? Membership in the Global Network Initiative, an alliance that helps companies respect freedom of expression and privacy rights when faced with government pressure to hand over user data, remove content, or restrict communications.

UN Global Compact ? Membership in the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and to take steps to support UN goals.

Transparency Report ? Reports detailing how the company processes third-party requests and enforces internal rules regarding people’s data and mitigates risks to their rights. Latest available report linked.

Indicator last reviewed 09-03-2023

Human Rights Policy ? Company policy describing its approach and commitment to human rights

Indicator last reviewed 09-03-2023

Business Code of Conduct ? A company code of conduct (or code of ethics) is a company document in which it sets out a set of principles that it commits itself to follow, or requires its employees and/or subcontractors to follow.
Indicator last reviewed 02-01-2024

Stories with associated response requests ? We sought responses from VK (formerly Mail.ru) to the allegations raised in these stories. Find out more about our Company Response Mechanism.

Benchmark rankings

RDR Corporate Accountability Index 2019
? The 2019 Ranking Digital Rights Corporate Accountability Index evaluated 24 of the world’s most powerful digital platforms and telecommunications companies on their disclosed policies and practices affecting people’s rights to freedom of expression and privacy.
21 / 100
RDR Corporate Accountability Index 2020
? The 2020 Ranking Digital Rights Corporate Accountability Index evaluated 26 of the world’s most powerful digital platforms and telecommunications companies on their disclosed policies and practices affecting people’s rights to freedom of expression and privacy.
27 / 100

Top associated countries

VK (formerly Mail.ru) has been referenced in news articles and reports on our website.

Company mentions (Articles, reports, news etc.)

Company headquarters

Company mentions (Articles, reports, news etc.) in disputed regions

Company headquarters in disputed regions