Russia ban on iPhones, computers without government mandated apps postponed

New legislation in Russia that will mandates all smartphones, computers and smart televisions to have Russian-made software pre-installed has been postponed, with provisions not kicking in until January 2021.

Russia's lower house of parliament passed legislation in November 2019 that makes it mandatory for devices such as Apple's iPhone that feature apps to include pre-loaded Russian-made ones. The legislation threatening the ban encompasses smartphones, computers, tablets, and televisions.

"When we buy complex electronic devices, they already have individual applications, mostly Western ones, pre-installed on them," co-author of Russia's legislation, Oleg Nikolayev said at the time. "Naturally, when a person sees them, they might think that there are no domestic alternatives available. And if, alongside pre-installed applications, we will also offer the Russian ones to users, then they will have a right to choose."

Tass isn't yet clear on the reasons behind the postponement. The delay may be technical, but is more likely related to the COVID-19 outbreak that is complicating device production and development at the moment.

Russia's own Association of Trading Companies and Manufacturers of Electrical Household and Computer Equipment has decried the legislation, saying that it would lead to less choice and more surveillance of the Russian people. The organization believes that western manufacturers will leave the Russian market instead of comply with the legislation.

Apps that are pre-loaded because of legislation would presumably not have to pass through a vetting process such as Apple's with App Store submissions. There would be no way for users to know whether or not these apps contained state-supported official spyware.

The new legislation comes after the country has introduced increasing control and limitations on the internet. Thus far, companies including Apple have complied with the various laws, including Apple, which agreed to store user data on Russian servers.

8 Comments

beowulfschmidt 2345 comments · 12 Years

About 4 years ago

I can only hope that the internet anarchy portrayed in so many cyberpunk-ish novels and movies provides suitable tools for Russian users to disable this stuff. Recent history suggests that there's a chance.

prokip 178 comments · 16 Years

Yes. Why don't they try stopping the tide. That might work.

MacPro 19836 comments · 18 Years

Is Kaspersky making the mandated software?

gatorguy 24603 comments · 13 Years

MacPro said:

Is Kaspersky making the mandated software?

I realize you're making light of this, but essentially the end result once mandated "software" is installed will be full access to user phones no matter the brand. That includes Apple. Russia is following in China's footsteps.

Country by country, eventually it becomes something the West feels compelled to put in place too with Apple and others showing willingness to "follow the law'' rather than opting not to play.

Privacy is for marketing. When push comes to shove it's dollars making the decision.

StrangeDays 12959 comments · 8 Years

gatorguy said:

MacPro said:

Is Kaspersky making the mandated software?

I realize you're making light of this, but essentially the end result once mandated "software" is installed will be full access to user phones no matter the brand. That includes Apple. Russia is following in China's footsteps.

Country by country, eventually it becomes something the West feels compelled to put in place too with Apple and others showing willingness to "follow the law'' rather than opting not to play.

Privacy is for marketing. When push comes to shove it's dollars making the decision.

Can you provide a link that shows Apple plans to go along with this? News to me.

As is, I think you’re confusing Google, where indeed privacy is not valued, with Apple, whose CEO is on record as believing privacy is a right. I do not expect them to comply with anything that compromises iOS security or privacy.