Apple drops iOS Private Relay feature for users in Russia
Apple's forthcoming Private Relay privacy feature in iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey, will reportedly no longer be usable in Russia.
![Apple Private Relay](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/44492-86399-000-lead-Private-Relay-xl.jpg)
Apple Private Relay
As well as only being available in public beta from the launch of iOS 15, Apple has previously said that Private Relay will not be available in all countries. Now, however, it has seemingly added Russia to that list.
AppleInsider has been contacted by readers reporting the removal, and local Twitter user @abdulla_hasan has shared a screenshot.
Previously, Apple had revealed that the privacy service won't be in Belarus, China, Colombia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Uganda and the Philippines, because of local regulations.
The removal of it from Russia comes as Apple, and Google, have also capitulated over Russian demands that an election app be removed from the App Store.
Read on AppleInsider
![Apple Private Relay](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/44492-86399-000-lead-Private-Relay-xl.jpg)
Apple Private Relay
As well as only being available in public beta from the launch of iOS 15, Apple has previously said that Private Relay will not be available in all countries. Now, however, it has seemingly added Russia to that list.
AppleInsider has been contacted by readers reporting the removal, and local Twitter user @abdulla_hasan has shared a screenshot.
iCloud Private Relay is no longer supported in Russia pic.twitter.com/df4z1q0gLQ
-- (@abdulla_hasan)
Previously, Apple had revealed that the privacy service won't be in Belarus, China, Colombia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Uganda and the Philippines, because of local regulations.
The removal of it from Russia comes as Apple, and Google, have also capitulated over Russian demands that an election app be removed from the App Store.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
They just 'turn off' their mantra in Belarus, China, Colombia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Uganda and the Philippines (and counting)....
And this has nothing in common with CSAM discussione where multi DB are used so no one is in control of them, indeed CSAM would be available (not anymore) on USA only where there are entities who protect children. Apple always did what is possible to do, even when their choices are easily manipulated by detractors. But in this case Apple can’t do nothing. And it is pretty sad.
you should angry with our politicians who have more power to change Russia government.
Apple offers privacy of that level if legal.
The only way out, is not to offer the feature.
Also, owners of a device should have authenticated root access to their device, such as to be able to scan their device for unauthorized spyware, or to manually install VPN software without Apple’s or some government’s consent,
“Security through obscurity” never works, what does work is “trust but verify”. Apple bets on the former and prevents the latter, and that’s JUST WRONG.
Clipped from another article:
"As much as Apple claims it would never give in to government pressure to misuse its CSAM scanning feature, cryptography academic Matthew Greene argues that the company just proved these assurances are worthless.
A Russian citizen replied saying that's not all.
Personally, I can’t see how Apple can possibly continue to argue the case. We know it will do what local laws require, because it has done so, and it has said so. We know it will give in to blackmail, because it has just done so.
So far, Apple has merely delayed its plans to think of additional safeguards, but it’s hard to see how any safeguard could protect against legally imposed or blackmailed capitulation."