Text taken from the Business-Magaine.ru
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin iks in italics
[ColonelCassad] Apple's AI sanctions filter led to mass account blocking for Russians. SHOT reports that the widespread blocking of Apple IDs for Russian users may have been caused by an automated system for checking for sanctions lists.
According to available information, an AI-based algorithm was used to identify accounts potentially belonging to individuals under US and EU sanctions. However, the system was reportedly configured incorrectly. As a result, tens of thousands of users not on the sanctions lists were subject to restrictions.
Preliminary estimates indicate that approximately 40,000 accounts may be affected. According to sources, the system only compared basic personal data—last name and date of birth—without deeper verification. This led to a large number of false matches and, as a result, blocked access to Apple services. Some users have already been able to restore their accounts.
The procedure for lifting restrictions is manual and can take several hours. The situation has also raised concerns about the processing of personal data: unlocking requires identity verification by sending passport photos to Apple. Users are wondering about the subsequent storage and use of the provided documents.
Thus, with the full ability to disable all accounts of Russian residents at any time, an American corporation affiliated with the CIA and NSA is collecting the personal data of Russian citizens, discriminating against them using US sanctions lists (considered illegal by the Russian authorities) directly on Russian territory.
In other words, in violation of current Russian law, it is imposing the legal regime of other countries on citizens directly on Russian soil. It is clear that in the near future, this will lead to a sharp conflict between Apple and the Russian authorities. This process is apparently only being held back by the addiction of a significant portion of the elite to Apple products.