Russia mulls smartphone ban for public officials over security concerns
Is this the end of the smartphone in Russia?
The Russian government may ban the use of foreign smartphones by its officials due to security risks, the local media reported in December 2013.
“Russian lawmakers will consider banning state officials from using foreign-made smartphones, such as iPhones, over concerns they may not be secure,” Russian news portal RT.com reported. “To avoid potential data leaks, they may be obliged to use Russian YotaPhones instead.”
Officials and top-ranking politicians have spoken openly about the need to tighten security when discussing state matters. Recent scandals surrounding the spying of U.S. intelligence services on their allies have meant that Russian politicians are now concerned about the relative ease with which smartphones and other mobile devices made by foreign companies can be tapped.
It has been proposed that security is divided into three tiers with the most high ranking officials only using encrypted phones, whereas business would be carried out using phones made by Russian companies.
“I’m afraid it is likely that all smartphones would have to be banned,” Senator Ruslan Gattarov commented, according to RT. “I don’t know any safe smartphones. Maybe the new Russian gadget, YotaPhone will become one.”
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