Russian Government Officials Swap Apple Inc. iPads for Samsung Tablets Due to Security, Privacy Concerns
While Apple and Samsung enter their second patent infringement trial in the United States (U.S.), Russian government officials may be adding more fuel to the rivalry by switching their preferred tablet brand due to security concerns.
According to Agence France-Press in Moscow, via The Guardian, government officials in Russia exchanged their Apple iPads for Samsung tablets. Russia's Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov would later confirm the swap after journalists noticed cabinet ministers were not using iPads. According to Nikiforov, the change to Samsung's tablets "took place not so long ago."
With privacy becoming a major concern following Edward Snowden's National Security Agency revelations, government officials worldwide have taken precaution in securing data for either their citizens or themselves. Nikiforov noted the Samsung tablets were "specially protected devices that can be used to work with confidential information."
He added, "Some of the information at government meetings is confidential in nature and these devices fully meet these demands and have gone through the strictest system of certification."
Nikiforov clarified the move to the South Korean-based Samsung tablets are not related to deride U.S.-based devices following the events in Crimea and Ukraine since Apple is based in Cupertino, Calif.
Russia might have had a friendly relationship with Apple as then-President Dmitry Medvedev received an iPhone from Steve Jobs in 2010. Medvedev would use the iPhone to deliver his first tweet on Twitter.
Meanwhile, fellow BRIC member Brazil has been working on legislation that may be a direct result from the NSA's surveillance program and spying on President Dilma Rousseff. As Latin Post reported, the bill, known as the "Marco Civil da Internet," has been referred to as the world's first "Bill of Rights" for the Internet.
The bill, although awaiting Senate approval before Pres. Rousseff's signature, would include protection of personal data especially from outside spying. One aspect in protecting someone's data in Brazil would have Internet companies keep their data centers within the country. The aspect, however, was considered controversial and was therefore removed from legislation. The Brazilian "Bill of Rights" would instead affirm jurisdiction over data and services within the country while requiring consumer Internet service providers (ISPs) to hold user data for no more than a year.
Tech security is also a major concern in the U.S., and a reason Pres. Barack Obama is still owner of a BlackBerry smartphone. Pres. Obama made it public knowledge he does not own an iPhone due to security concerns but having possession of a smartphone was not easy for him. A special BlackBerry smartphone was created for him including strong security encryption. The reason for the security concern was the Secret Service's worry of potential threats by hackers, thus revealing his locations and stored data.
While Russian government officials may be using South Korean-based devices, the U.S. government has relied heavily on Canadian-based BlackBerry. Apple, meanwhile, can at least claim Malia and Sasha Obama are iPhone owners.
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