Apple Calls New Russian Smartphone Sales Legislation 'Equivalent to Jailbreaking'

[MacRumors]

Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed new legislation requiring all smartphones, computers, and smart TVs sold in the country to come pre-installed with Russian software, reports Reuters.

Proponents of the law claim it will help Russian developers better compete with foreign tech firms. The legislation has also been pitched as a way of sparing consumers from having to download software after purchasing a new device.

Electronic retailers have already criticized the law, which is due to come into force on July 1 next year, and say the legislation was adopted without consulting them. The law has also sparked fears that Russia could use the pre-installed apps as a way to spy on its citizens.

It's still unclear how tech companies will react to the news, although Apple has previously threatened to pull out of the Russian market if a complete ban on selling its products without pre-installed apps was introduced, Russian media reported earlier this year.

Responding to today's news of the law, an unnamed Apple source reportedly told the Kommersant business daily: "A mandate to add third-party applications to Apple's ecosystem would be equivalent to jailbreaking. It would pose a security threat, and the company cannot tolerate that kind of risk."

According to The Moscow Times, the government will draw up a list of software which tech companies will need to pre-install, and a list of the devices covered by the law, expected to include computers, tablets and smart TVs alongside mobile phones.

The Russian government has cracked down on internet freedoms in recent years, including requiring messaging services to share encryption keys with security services and social networks to store user data on servers in the country.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple Calls New Russian Smartphone Sales Legislation 'Equivalent to Jailbreaking'

 

[infiniteentropy]

Meanwhile, they bend to China's demand that allows people to be imprisoned or killed with little to no cause.

Too bad Russia doesn't build any of their stuff, then they'd follow the money and just comply and then defend the decision to comply!

Apple is lost.

 

[robbietop]

"Apple has internally debated for six months the consequences of the Russian government's new regulations and laws. The company has decided that the risk is too extraordinary for our shareholders and customers. Forthwith, post haste, lickety split, we Audi 5000 from the Russian Market. Peace, yo!"

 

[JohnApples]

I actually really want to see Apple pull out of the Russian market.

Then, i want to see China demand that all smartphones have government mandated apps preinstalled.

Would Apple pull out of the Chinese market? Or would they make an exception/excuse for China? That would be fun to watch.

 

[CHA05 R31GN5]

I actually really want to see Apple pull out of the Russian market.

Then, i want to see China demand that all smartphones have government mandated apps preinstalled.

Would Apple pull out of the Chinese market? Or would they make an exception/excuse for China? That would be fun to watch.

LOL. Money is more important than privacy to companies, EVEN Apple. They'll stay in the Russian market, comply, and sugar coat the entirety of the program with the purpose of the software.

 

[HiVolt]

I actually really want to see Apple pull out of the Russian market.

Then, i want to see China demand that all smartphones have government mandated apps preinstalled.

Would Apple pull out of the Chinese market? Or would they make an exception/excuse for China? That would be fun to watch.

Of course they would. I think they already have or had China specific models, so what would be any different.

Tim is all bark, no bite.

 

[DoctorTech]

I hope Apple pulls out of the Russian market rather than caving to this legislation. Once the precedent is set, Apple will find themselves having to put more and more software on their products in Russia and the legislation will undoubtedly spread to other countries. Stand strong Apple.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

only apps that are already available with the App Store in their App Store form or will these be apps that don't comply with app store rules and security checks? Will Apple be required to load them at the factory or will retailers load them using standard user methods? Will MDM and enterprise certs be used or loaded as a user? These things will be important to know as well.

 

[AustinIllini]

LOL. Money is more important than privacy to companies, EVEN Apple. They'll stay in the Russian market, comply, and sugar coat the entirety of the program with the purpose of the software.

Honestly, Russia isn't that big of a country for this to matter.

People think Russia is like China. It's not, it's far more like Italy.

Apple pulling out of Russia would be a power move and a worthwhile tactic, IMHO.

 

[calstanford]

Just don’t sell in Russia

 

[rmoliv]

Pull out of China, Russia, Saudi and every other dictatorship... If every company did this we’d probably be living in a better world today, but money is all that matters.

 

[ersan191]

The legislation has also been pitched as a way of sparing consumers from having to download software after purchasing a new device.

I can’t believe they say this stuff with a straight face.

 

[Kabeyun]

Proponents of the law claim it will help Russian developers better compete with foreign tech firms. The legislation has also been pitched as a way of sparing consumers from having to download software after purchasing a new device.

Does anyone actually believe this, even the “proponents” of the law?

 

[Sasparilla]

I hope Apple walks out of the market. We'll see.

The future though for country's that are not really strong democracies (privacy, govts controlling / monitoring everything) - looks pretty bleak...tyranny delivered via technology at an individual level (as Russia is obviously trying to pry open here).

 

[McTaste]

Honestly, Russia isn't that big of a country for this to matter.

People think Russia is like China. It's not, it's far more like Italy.

Apple pulling out of Russia would be a power move and a worthwhile tactic, IMHO.

Agreed. Apple probably won’t even notice if they leave Russia. More companies (and countries) should give Russia the finger.

 

[aarond12]

Russia has recently talked about disconnecting itself from the world Internet, kind of having their own "intranet" like North Korea does. Russia's technology market will wither and die when/if that happens.

 

[McTaste]

The rest of the world would love if Russians were cut off from the public internet. One less source of attacks.

 

[GeoStructural]

Meanwhile, they bend to China's demand that allows people to be imprisoned or killed with little to no cause.

Too bad Russia doesn't build any of their stuff, then they'd follow the money and just comply and then defend the decision to comply!

Apple is lost.

Exactly! Google’s apps and services are banned in China, I had to use the low offering Apple counterparts, wonder how they are allowed? Well... privacy is a myth and Apple, like any company, is a ho when it comes to money.

 

[Lalatoon]

I don't think Russia's market is big enough to threaten Apple. Let us see what Apple does.

 

[roland.g]

Don’t tell Warren or Sanders. They’ll be adding a similar proposal to their campaigns.

 

[johannnn]

Meanwhile, they bend to China's demand that allows people to be imprisoned or killed with little to no cause.

Too bad Russia doesn't build any of their stuff, then they'd follow the money and just comply and then defend the decision to comply!

Apple is lost.

Like not allowing an app that shows the location of all cops? Yeah good luck getting that approved in US or any country as well. No sane person would say that Apples actions leads to people getting killed. You just sound like a Bernie supporter.

 

[Winni]

Pull out of China, Russia, Saudi and every other dictatorship... If every company did this we’d probably be living in a better world today, but money is all that matters.

NSA. PRISM. Mass surveillance. Secret courts issuing National Security Letters. Guantanamo.

But sure, it's always the other countries that do the really, really bad things that violate everybody's rights.

 

[MacModMachine]

LOL. Money is more important than privacy to companies, EVEN Apple. They'll stay in the Russian market, comply, and sugar coat the entirety of the program with the purpose of the software.

your quite wrong , they lost tens of millions fighting with the government over unlocking phones.

they have no problem loosing money for keeping there phones secured.

 

[Smith288]

Putin could not be more transparent in what he's trying to do. I wish Russia would gut themselves of that Napoleon complexed turd.

 

[Winni]

The future though for country's that are not really strong democracies (privacy, govts controlling / monitoring everything) - looks pretty bleak...tyranny delivered via technology at an individual level (as Russia is obviously trying to pry open here).

You mean countries like the United States? Seriously, are you even looking at what's happening in the US?