Russia orders Apple and Microsoft to store user messages

Apple and Microsoft have reportedly been added to Russia's state surveillance register. Companies on the list are required to store the messages, voice and video communications of local users and to hand them over to Russian security services when asked.

The move comes as Russia tightens its restrictions on foreign messaging services. Neither Apple nor Microsoft has commented publicly on being registered, and neither has said whether it will comply with the obligations.

What the register means in practice

According to the information available, Apple and Microsoft were added on October 2 to the register of "information dissemination organizers" maintained by Roskomnadzor, Russia's communications regulator. The same register includes companies and services such as Google Meet, WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Cloudflare and Blizzard Entertainment. Google and its Google Meet video service had been added in January.

Under Russian law, registered companies must store the messages and voice and video communications of local users and surrender that data when security services request it. Information about users and the transmission of their communications must also be kept inside Russia for three years.

Companies that fail to comply can face fines and, at the extreme end, Russia can restrict access to the service concerned. Being listed is therefore not a mere administrative formality for these companies but a binding burden on how they store and share data.

Pressure on messaging services keeps growing

Russia has continued to tighten its limits on foreign messaging platforms in recent months. Access to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and Apple's FaceTime has been blocked or restricted. The addition of Apple and Microsoft to the register stands out as another step in this increasingly strict regulatory environment.

Apple's increasingly difficult relationship with Russia

Apple's position in Russia has been complicated since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022. The company halted product sales and exports at the time and limited some services such as Apple Pay. The App Store, however, kept operating in the country, which has led to a number of disputes with local authorities.

In April, payment restrictions imposed by the government left Russian users unable to make new App Store purchases or renew subscriptions without an existing Apple Account balance. In June, the Kremlin demanded an explanation after Apple removed certain apps developed by VK, a company under Russian state control, from the App Store. Around the same time, Apple also pulled banking apps linked to sanctioned Russian financial institutions from the store.

In August, Russia's competition authority opened formal proceedings against Apple for not pre-installing the state-backed MAX messaging app and the RuStore app store on devices.

What happens next

For now it is unclear how Apple and Microsoft will respond to being registered. Neither company has made a public statement or said whether it will comply. Non-compliance could bring fines and, ultimately, restricted access to their services. The companies' stance should become clearer as developments unfold.