Russian government asks Apple to hand over source code amid spying concerns
Russia's Ministry of Communications and Mass Media has suggested that Apple should open its source code for government inspection to ensure that the iPhone maker is not complicit in enabling U.S. intelligence services to spy on the world's largest country.
Former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and late Apple CEO Steve Jobs
Russian Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov made the same proposition to German firm SAP, one of the most prominent software consultancies in the world, according to Reuters. The suggestion came during a meeting between Nikiforov, Peter Engrob Nielsen -- Apple's top Russian executive -- and SAP managing director Vyacheslav Orekhov.
"Edward Snowden's revelations in 2013 and U.S. intelligence services' public statements about the strengthening of surveillance of Russia in 2014 have raised a serious question of trust in foreign software and hardware," Nikiforov said in a statement.
"Obviously, companies which disclose the source code of their programmes are not hiding anything, but those who do not intend to establish cooperation with Russia on this issue may have undeclared capabilities in their products," he added.
Microsoft agreed to a similar proposal in 2010, granting the Russian Federal Security Service access to source code for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft SQL Server. The FSS is roughly equivalent to the Central Intelligence Agency in the U.S.
The documents revealed by Snowden have caused substantial concern on the part of foreign governments when it comes to trusting the security of U.S. technology, much of it directed at Apple thanks to the massive popularity of the iPhone and iPad. Most recently, Chinese state media called iOS's location tracking features a "national security concern," accusations that Apple vociferously denied.
"Apple is deeply committed to protecting the privacy of all our customers," the company said in a response to the Chinese reports. "Privacy is built into our products and services from the earliest stages of design. We work tirelessly to deliver the most secure hardware and software in the world."
Former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and late Apple CEO Steve Jobs
Russian Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov made the same proposition to German firm SAP, one of the most prominent software consultancies in the world, according to Reuters. The suggestion came during a meeting between Nikiforov, Peter Engrob Nielsen -- Apple's top Russian executive -- and SAP managing director Vyacheslav Orekhov.
"Edward Snowden's revelations in 2013 and U.S. intelligence services' public statements about the strengthening of surveillance of Russia in 2014 have raised a serious question of trust in foreign software and hardware," Nikiforov said in a statement.
"Obviously, companies which disclose the source code of their programmes are not hiding anything, but those who do not intend to establish cooperation with Russia on this issue may have undeclared capabilities in their products," he added.
Microsoft agreed to a similar proposal in 2010, granting the Russian Federal Security Service access to source code for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft SQL Server. The FSS is roughly equivalent to the Central Intelligence Agency in the U.S.
The documents revealed by Snowden have caused substantial concern on the part of foreign governments when it comes to trusting the security of U.S. technology, much of it directed at Apple thanks to the massive popularity of the iPhone and iPad. Most recently, Chinese state media called iOS's location tracking features a "national security concern," accusations that Apple vociferously denied.
"Apple is deeply committed to protecting the privacy of all our customers," the company said in a response to the Chinese reports. "Privacy is built into our products and services from the earliest stages of design. We work tirelessly to deliver the most secure hardware and software in the world."
Comments
2) The real interest may be with being able to find ways to spy on everyone by making the task of finding security holes easier.
Buawhahaha! That's funny Russia. I think Apple would sooner remove all their products from your country first.
Ditto to all the comments above. Add a "Ha-haaa" from Nelson.
This raises an interesting question for me: If the iOS source code was stolen by hackers and released to the public, how much damage (if any) would that do to iOS security?
hahahahahahahahahah!!!
Two words immediately spring to mind: The first starts with the letter 'F' and the second with the letter 'O'.
a bit more business like...
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Once again Snowden is Russia's tool.
In this case you should thank the NSA for opening this huge can of worms (bag of hurt). If IOS, OSX, all Windows, and Android were, say Chinese, or Korean, or even Russian, and a similar revelation as the NSA spying was revealed, how much would you trust the aforementioned systems to run the government, business and personal computers of the USA? Not much I'd wager and you'd probably feel the request to peek at the source code was a fair request.
Its always interesting to turn the tables in the name of perspective. I'm not saying they will, or should cave, but perhaps that the request is not without merit and the burden needs to be on Apple et al's shoulders to prove their case.
In Russia, Code Submits YOU!
But seriously, even if Apple did give them some code, they probably won't understand one line. And besides, Russia doesn't run the world and Apple is not indebted to them for anything.
Samsung would like the source code too, please.
ROTFLOL!
Yeah, so, if Apple pulls all their devices from Russia nobody will care, b/c most won't be able to afford an iOS device after all the sanctions go through. Hell, Apple won't be able to export iOS devices to Russia if even more sanctions are put out.