14 DAY TRIAL // In the past, we heard some countries were quite reluctant to use technology made by another country, especially within governmental institutions. These fears have a solid basis, as some governments might try to manipulate local tech producers to create international products with a back door supportive of spying activities.
And in the wake of the Edward Snowden leaks, the paranoia levels have probably risen tenfold with some official organizations. And which country holds on to their secrets fiercely? Russia, of course. As you'd expect, they are trying their best to keep American intelligence out of their business.
As reported by the Business Insider, perhaps looking to minimize the risk that this might ever happen, the Russian government has apparently stopped using Apple’s iPad products in an official capacity.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Russian officials have taken up Samsung tablets instead. Journalists in the country spotted ministers at a cabinet meeting without their Apple gear and minister Nikolai Nikiforov confirms for the press that the change has been realized recently.
He motivates the decision by saying the new batch of Samsung tablets are secure products, especially designed to handle work with sensitive information.
“Some of the information at government meetings is confidential in nature and these devices fully meet these demands and have gone through the strictest system of certification.”
Nikiforov has also taken the opportunity to refute the claim accusing the Russian government of dumping US technology as a response to the West and the recent sanctions following the takeover of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula.
However, he admits Russian officials are well aware US special services will “significantly increase the volume of information they intercept” especially in this troubled political period.
Therefore, he highlights the necessity of governmental organizations in carefully choosing their IT partners.
Another theory is that the NSA might be having a backdoor into iOS devices, thus allowing them to spy on Russia (and other countries and individuals, something which Apple has denied. Apparently, the Russians aren't willing to take the company’s word for it.
The minister adds South Korea’s Samsung and other Chinese partners are being taken into consideration to permanently fill in the void left by Apple.
Russian officials haven’t been strangers to Apple products. Back in 2010, Russian’s then-president and currently Prime Minister Dmitry Madvedev dropped in for a visit in Silicon Valley and was greeted by Steve Jobs himself who gifted him with a shiny new iPhone.