Russia may block access to iCloud and Apple services from 1 Jan 2015

Russia could block iPhone and iPad access to iCloud and Apple services starting 1 January, due to the storage of the data being overseas.

It was reported recently, that Russia passed a law urging various internet companies to store user data on local servers. Now, according to a report from Progorod, the country could impose some sort of ban on Apple products and services for failing to provide a solution for storing iCloud data locally.

Apple hasn't been the only one targeted, and many more Internet companies providing services in Russia could face a similar ban in the country if they do not make provisions to store the data of citizens on local server farms.

The recent revelations of the NSA's PRISM program have made various countries concerned about the security of their citizens' data and they have made similar demands to US companies. It is unclear if and how Russia plans to impose the reported ban on existing devices, but it is possible that ISPs will prohibit access to iCloud and related services.

It's unclear if sales of Apple devices will also be blocked in the country from 1 January 2015.

Source: Progorod (Russian) via PhoneArena | Image via belami.rs