As of October 2, Apple and Microsoft are considered “organizers of information dissemination,” on Russia‘s state surveillance registry, according to Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor.
Bloomberg reports the two companies have joined several other other tech firms and apps, including Cloudflare, Blizzard Entertainment, Google, Meta, Telegram, and Snapchat in being required to store their users’ communications just in case the Russian security agencies want to take a look at them.
Bloomberg says companies are required by Russian law to store local users’ electronic communications and turn that data over to the Kremlin’s security agencies upon request, as well as information about users, for at least three years.
Any companies that fail to fall in line can face steep fines and can even have all access to their services blocked in Mother Russia.
It’s all part of a crackdown by the Russian government on foreign messaging and communication services. Russkie thugs have already wither limited or blocked access to several messaging platforms, including Apple’s FaceTime, Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp. Social network Snapchat and multiplayer gaming platform Roblox were also banned.
If Apple’s relationship with the Russian government were listed on Facebook, it would be under “it’s complicated.” Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Apple has suspended product sales and exports to the country, while also limiting services like Apple Pay.
In August, Russia launched a long-threatened investigation as to why Apple refuses to preload state-backed apps onto devices sold in the country, even though Apple hasn’t sold iPhones in Russia since March 2022.
In July 2024, following pressure from the Russian government, Apple removed several iPhone VPN apps from the country’s App Store.
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 claimed was being used to facilitate criminal activity. Social network Snapchat and multiplayer gaming platform Roblox were also banned. The restriction came following the launch of the Russian government’s own messaging app, MAX.
Apple and Microsoft have yet to publicly commented on their inclusion in the registry or said whether they intend to comply with the Kremlin’s requirements.
