The expert commented on the rumors about the imminent ban on Apple technology

In Russia, they can ban Apple equipment if it turns out that the gadgets of the American company are unsafe for Russian users. Digital technology experts began to voice this opinion immediately after it became known that Roskomnadzor began checking the company’s devices for security.

Some of them are sure that the supervisory authority is looking for spyware, others believe that they are checking how secure access from these devices to Russian digital services is. But what is actually waiting for consumers?

– The Apple company is known precisely for the fact that it tries not to allow any outside influence on its infrastructure, in fact, they get all their multi-billion dollar profit due to the fact that their programs are very difficult to crack, so Roskomnadzor will be able to make sure that powerful protection against spyware programs on Apple gadgets are certainly present, – says Nikita KULIKOV, director of ANO PravoRobotov. – Another thing is that Apple itself collects the biometrics of its users and, in fact, does not hide it. This is the case for any technology that uses the biometrics of mobile app users to pay, for example, for purchases.

– And what kind of information is this, and how can it be interesting for the same Apple?

– First, when starting to use electronic gadgets and mobile applications, we disclose our personal information. When registering, we indicate our name, surname, bank card, e-mail address. And secondly, gadgets collect our biometrics in relation to this personal information. For example, they have the face dynamics of the owner of the device so that the camera can recognize him. With the help of special mobile applications, they see how much this person walks a day and where he goes. They know his bank cards and accounts, they may even know your passport details when you save your plane boarding pass on your phone. It is possible that this set of data about Russians, which becomes available to an American company, is causing concern for Roskomnadzor.

– So you assume that they can share this information with someone?

– With the participants of the commercial market is unlikely, but Apple is an American company, so it cannot be ruled out that personal and biometric information about Russian users will become available to US intelligence agencies.

– And how, in fact, can you check whether this information is leaking to the side or not? Does Roskomnadzor have any technical means for such a check, or any leverage on Apple, other than a ban on selling their equipment on the Russian market?

– In technical terms, I doubt that there are such opportunities, given how the company protects its system from external influences. Most likely, the same story that happened with Telegram will repeat here. However, I would not build pessimistic forecasts regarding the fact that sales of Apple equipment may be banned in Russia. Like all technology giants, this company compromises with government agencies for its own benefit and profit. Remember when a decree was issued that foreign-made gadgets should be pre-installed with domestic software, and not so much in the form of an operating system, but in terms of services (maps, mail, and so on) – and so, the company obediently fulfills these requirements. Therefore, we need to wait until the moment when Roskomnadzor voices its claims against Apple, and it will depend on how feasible they are from the point of view of the company’s policy whether we see its products on the shelves of our stores or not.

– Apple’s management has repeatedly stated that sales in Russia make up a very small percentage of the company’s turnover. Why should they make any concessions and compromises?

– They all say so, however, when it turns out that they have no other options to stay in the market of a given country, except to obey the demand of its authorities, they immediately make concessions and compromises. This is the law of business.