The Kremlin has ordered employees
working for the Russian presidential administration to stop using
iPhones over alleged concerns about espionage and hacking, according to a
Kommersant report.
Kremlin officials are concerned that iPhones may be more exposed to Western-based intelligence agencies.
- Sergei
Kiriyenko, first deputy chief of administration staff, reportedly told
the employees to replace their iPhones with other devices by April 1.
- According
to the Kommersant newspaper, the Kremlin may provide the employees with
a smartphone that runs a different operating system, which could make
them less vulnerable to security threats.
- The directive applies
to the Kremlin's information and communication technologies and
infrastructure team, as well as employees who are making preparations
for Russia's next presidential election in 2024.
- While
he did not confirm the report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said
that any smartphone, whether it runs iOS or Android, "has a fairly
transparent mechanism" and is "not to be used for official business."
- Russian
President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin's longest-serving since leader
Josef Stalin, hasn't confirmed if he will run for re-election next year.
