The government body overseeing industry and trade in Russia has publicly stated that starting July 17, employees will be barred from using Apple iPhones for official business communications. This directive marks a shift in the way government work is conducted and raises questions about how agencies will handle secure messaging and daily correspondence.
According to the statement from the department, the order specifically targets business communications. The deputy head of the ministry, a senior official named Vasily Osmakov, clarified that the ban on iPhone-based correspondence would take effect during the Innoprom-2023 industrial exhibition. The timing was confirmed as July 17, aligning with the official schedule of the event and the ministry’s internal governance cycle.
Earlier in July, a well informed business daily reported similar plans, noting that the restriction might extend to subsidiary entities within the ministry’s broader organizational network. While the newspapers cited internal documents, the ministry’s public posture remained cautious, with officials suggesting that the move was part of broader consideration of technology security and compatibility with state systems.
In conversations with journalists, an employee from a firm involved in developing IT solutions indicated that the internal ban had already been described in internal paperwork. The separate confirmation from the press office of the government suggested the policy was under review and subject to operational details as the year progressed.
In related developments, statements from the presidential administration earlier in the year indicated similar cautions about the use of consumer devices for official duties. The overarching theme across these notes was a focus on ensuring that devices used for government work meet security and control requirements appropriate for handling official information.
The ministry has previously discussed the possibility of excluding iPhones from certain government operations. While no final decision on parallel imports or device allowances has been publicly finalized, the ongoing discussions point to a broader assessment of how modern devices align with national security and service delivery needs. The discussion continues as the government weighs practical considerations with policy aims and the evolving landscape of digital governance.