The Kremlin has decided that using iPhones is no longer safe for any Russian government personnel.
According to Kommersant, Sergei Kiriyenko, Russia’s first deputy chief of staff of the presidential office, met with government officials to discuss the impending presidential election in 2024. Kiriyenko declares that iPhones are prohibited and that staff has until April 1 to dispose of them or “give it to the kids.”
As stated by the Russian authorities, Apple’s smartphones constitute a security risk and are “more susceptible to hacking and espionage by Western experts compared to other smartphones.”
The Register reported that the ban is initially for those who are working within the Presidential Administration, but personnel in the domestic policy, public projects, state council, and IT and communications departments will also be required to get rid of their iPhones by the end of the month.
The Russian authorities also stated that smartphones running Android, any Chinese mobile operating system or the Russian Linux-based Aurora OS are not prohibited.
