Kremlin Bans The Use Of IPhones Due To Vulnerable To Western Intelligence

Sergei Kiriyenko, deputy chief administration of the Russian president. (photo: twitter @EliasMC007)

Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that the Kremlin ordered officials regarding preparations for Russia's 2024 presidential election to stop using Apple Inc.'s iPhone, fearing the device was vulnerable to Western intelligence.

Sergei Kiriyenko, vice head of presidential administration, in a seminar organized by the Kremlin for officials involved in domestic politics, ordered officials to change their phones before April 1, as reported by Kommersant, citing unnamed sources.

"It's all over for the iPhone: throw it away or give it to the kids," as quoted by one of the meeting participants. "Everyone has to do it in March."

When asked about the matter on Monday, March 20, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he could not confirm the report.

"Smartphones should not be used for official businesses," Peskov told reporters. "Every smartphone has a fairly transparent mechanism, no matter what operating system - Android or iOS. Of course, they are not used for official purposes."

The Kremlin can provide other devices with different operating systems to replace the iPhone, Kommersant reported. It added that the order to stop using the iPhone was addressed to those involved in domestic politics, which is under Kiriyenko.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has always said that he does not have a smartphone, although Peskov has said that Putin is using the internet from time to time.

As soon as Russia sent its troops to Ukraine last year, US and UK spies claimed to have uncovered intelligence that Putin was planning to attack. It is not clear how the spy obtained the intelligence data.