In an effort to crackdown on spying concerns against the American tech giant, Russian authorities have moved to ban iPhones and other Apple products.
Russia Implements Ban On iPhones and Other Apple Products
Starting Monday, there will be a ban on iPhones for “work purposes” as directed by the ministry of Trade.
In this regard, both the ministry of digital development and Rostec, the state-owned firm that has been subjected to western sanctions for supplying Russia’s war machine in Ukraine, have indicated that they will follow suit or have already enacted bans.
It appears that there has been growing concern in the Kremlin and the Federal Security Service spy agency.
This kind of ban against the range of Apple products at various ministries and institutions in the Kremlin indicates that there is a surge in espionage attempts by U.S. intelligence agencies against Russian state institutions.
“Security officials in ministries—these are FSB employees who hold civilian positions such as deputy ministers—announced that iPhones were no longer considered safe and that alternatives should be sought,” said the sources close to a government agency that banned Apple products.
America Could Use Their Technology For Wiretapping
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin had directed the agencies and organizations that are engaged in “critical information infrastructure.”
It is a broad term that includes healthcare, science, and the financial sector, to transition to domestically developed software by 2025.
This news comes a month after Russia launched a full-blown invasion of Ukraine.
This move speaks for Moscow’s long-standing intention to force state institutions to abandon foreign technologies.
Some Russian analysts said that the latest directive won’t do much to eliminate concerns that western intelligence services have access to sensitive data on Russian government operations.
The Russian officials “truly believe” that America could use their technology for wiretapping, according to Andrey Soldatov, a Russian security and intelligence services expert.
Further adding, “the FSB has long been concerned about the use of iPhones for professional contacts, but the presidential administration and other officials opposed [restrictions] simply because they liked iPhones.”
Such bans are already in effect or soon will be in the finance and energy ministries and other governmental entities, according to an individual close to the government agency.
Other ministries have adopted the prohibition on email correspondence pertaining to work-related tasks, said Vasily Osmakov, the commerce ministry’s deputy head.
“The specialists of the IT department report when someone opens their work email from an iPhone. It’s easy to control,” said another source close to one ministry.
