Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has prohibited its employees from using Apple’s iPhones and iPads for work-related purposes.
The Interfax news agency reported on Friday that Maxut Shadayev, the Minister of Digital Development, stated at a conference, “A ban has been imposed on the use of mobile devices produced by Apple, such as smartphones and tablets, to prevent them from accessing work applications and exchanging work-related emails.” The Russian minister added, “Using iPhones for personal needs is permitted.”
The ministry issued the ban two months after Russia’s domestic security agency claimed that several thousands of Apple devices were compromised due to a spying operation by the United States.
Apple has denied these allegations. The U.S. National Security Agency, which the Russian security agency alleged had collaborated with Apple, refrained from commenting on these claims at the time
