Russian Apps Begin Appearing on Samsung Smartphones with No Option to Remove Them
Discover how new legislation is leading to the pre-installation of Russian software on Samsung devices, and what it means for users worldwide.
Even older Samsung devices are now receiving domestic Russian software installations.
Starting March 29, users of various Samsung smartphone models reported receiving operating system updates that included pre-installed Russian applications such as Yandex Browser, Yandex Disk, and Yandex Maps. Notably, these apps cannot be uninstalled from the devices.
https://twitter.com/GorlovDmitry/status/1376547411552833539
Samsung's official update notes reference new legal requirements mandating the pre-installation of domestic software. However, according to Anton Guskov, a representative of the Association of Trade Companies and Manufacturers of Electrical and Computer Equipment (RATEK), these regulations do not apply to devices manufactured before January 1, nor to devices already in use by consumers.
Samsung representatives acknowledge that the law does not require changes for devices already in use. However, due to technical specifics, system software updates are rolled out across the entire device lineup. Samsung also emphasized that most pre-installed applications can be fully removed, and if removal is not possible, users can at least hide the app icons from their home screens.
Update: Tigran Khudaverdyan, Managing Director of Yandex Group, has urged Samsung and other manufacturers not to install non-removable versions of their apps.
"We have not signed agreements with phone manufacturers regarding this, and from a human perspective, we agree with everyone who is upset – yes, this should not be done."
Tigran Khudaverdyan
It is important to note that starting April 1, Russian law requires smartphones and tablets sold in Russia to come pre-installed with 16 categories of software. These include applications from Mail.ru Group, Yandex, Kaspersky Lab, New Cloud Technologies (brand 'MyOffice'), as well as government service apps like Gosuslugi and the Mir payment system. Additionally, a list of domestic video streaming services has been approved, featuring platforms such as ivi, Okko, More.tv, Wink, Premier, Start, Kinopoisk HD, Smotrim, and services from NTV and Channel One.
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