Instead of some apps already being installed when buying a new iPhone, the Russian authorities and Apple have agreed to make recommendations. Thus, “domestic apps” will be recommended for installation when setting up the smartphone from 01.04.2021.
New law from April
The background to the agreement between Russia and Apple is a new law that stipulates that imported laptops, tablets, smartphones and desktops should not have standard apps from manufacturers in Korea, China and the US installed on them, but instead domestic apps. The new law will come into force in Russia from April 01, 2021. Now, instead of already installing the domestic apps, Apple could find a compromise with the Russian authorities. When iPhones are shipped, the apps do not have to be already on the smartphone. The solution here is a pop-up that appears during setup. This lists the programs that are recommended for installation by the Russian state. This is how the Kremlin is trying to gain control over browser apps, map apps and the mail app.
Apple is not giving in for the first time, already in 2019 the company gave in to the demands of the Russian government. As a result, the Maps app showed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea as a Russian territory, which was annexed by Russia since 2014 in violation of international law. The company’s position is to comply with the laws in the countries that belong to Apple’s sales markets. The company does not only want to “stand on the sidelines and watch, but to continue to have an influence”. Tim Cook said this about the sales market China, and the attitude towards Russia is similar. Therefore, also a further yielding to the demands of the Russian government.
Recommendations remain recommendations
The recommendations of the Russian authorities which appear with the pop-up can also be rejected by the user, so it remains only recommendations. The selection can always be adjusted by the Moscow Digital Ministry.
