Apple Blocked From Russian Government Devices, Here's Why!

Russia has banned its government employees from using Apple devices. (photo: dock. apple)

JAKARTA - Russia has begun to take action against technology companies in the United States (US), which prohibits its government employees from using Apple devices.

Starting today, the Russian Ministry of Commerce asked its employees not to use the iPhone for work purposes.

Other authorities, including the country's Ministry of Telecommunications and mass media, also follow similar rules. According to reports, the ban includes all Apple products.

However, officials can continue to use the device for personal use, as long as it does not open up a work correspondence on their iPhone. The ban follows a series of actions that strained Apple's relations with Russia.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Apple cut off access to Apple Pay and stopped selling products in the country as a symbol of solidarity with those affected by the conflict.

In addition, the ban also comes after serious accusations made by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in early June.

The FSB claims to have discovered spy operations by large-scale US intelligence agencies involving Apple devices. The FSB said many iPhones, including those used by Russian diplomatic missions in NATO countries, were suspected of being infected with monitoring software.

In fact, the FSB accused Apple of working closely with US signal intelligence to provide agents with various control tools. The tech giant quickly denied these allegations.

Apple emphasizes its commitment to user privacy and insists they have never cooperated with any government to create backdoors in its products. This was quoted from Engadget and GizmoChina, Monday, July 17.