From Russia With Logs: Kremlin Adds Apple to State Surveillance Registry
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As of October 2, Apple and Microsoft are now listed on Russia’s state surveillance registry, joining other so-called “organizers of information dissemination,” according to Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, which maintains a database of such information.
Bloomberg reports the two companies joined other tech firms and apps, including Cloudflare, Blizzard Entertainment, Google’s Google Meet, Meta’s WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, in being required to store their users’ electronic communications — including audio, video, and text — and turn them over to Russian security agencies when requested. They must store such information about users, as well as their conversations, for at least three years.
Companies failing to comply can face steep fines and can have access to their services blocked in Russia.
The move comes as the Russian government continues to crack down on foreign messaging and communication services. State censors have already limited or completely blocked access to several platforms, including Apple’s FaceTime, Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp.
In December 2025, Russia blocked Apple’s FaceTime video-calling app, as part of a continuing effort to block private communication methods, which the Russian government claims are being used to facilitate criminal activity. Social network Snapchat and multiplayer gaming platform Roblox were also banned.
While many tech firms have had an “it’s complicated” relationship with the Russian government since the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Apple’s relationship has become particularly touchy. Since the invasion, Apple has suspended product sales and exports to the country, while also limiting services like Apple Pay.
While Apple has continued to operate the App Store in Russia, it has faced several disputes with Russian authorities. In April, government-imposed payment restrictions resulted in Russian users being unable to make new purchases or renew their subscriptions unless they already had an existing Apple Account balance.
In late June, the Kremlin demanded to know why apps published by Russian internet and technology company VK had been removed from the App Store without “any warning or explanation.” Moscow said the removals were “unjustified and unacceptable.”
The apps that had been removed were all Russian government-mandated apps. Apple had also removed banking apps that were linked to sanctioned Russian financial institutions.
In July, Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service threatened Apple with a 4 billion ruble ($51.6 million) fine for “discriminating” against Russian software by not automatically installing Russian software on iPhones and iPads sold in the country, including search engines and messenger Max.
That in itself is rather weird, as Apple doesn’t sell either of those devices in the country, nor does it even have authorized dealers in Russia, meaning any Apple devices sold there are available only via the black or gray markets. It should be noted that Russian sales accounted for just slightly more than 1% of Apple’s sales, so pulling its products from there wasn’t exactly a huge sacrifice.
Apple and Microsoft have yet to publicly comment on their inclusion in the registry or say whether they intend to comply with the Kremlin’s requirements.
