Russia wants encryption developed by the Federal Security Service (FSB) built into every 5G smartphone sold in the country, from Apple's iPhone to Samsung's Galaxy line, according to a report by UNITED24 Media.

The requirement would apply across vendors, not only to Russian-made handsets. Apple and Samsung, the two brands named in the report, would face the same obligation as any other manufacturer seeking to keep devices on the Russian market.

What does this change for handset makers?

For foreign vendors, the demand touches the core of device security. Building FSB-developed cryptographic modules into a phone means embedding code from Russia's principal security and intelligence service into the trusted chain of the operating system. Neither Apple nor Samsung has publicly said whether it would comply, refuse, or exit the market.

Apple already restricts the security features it ships by region. Samsung builds some devices locally through partners and imports others. A mandatory FSB module would force both companies to choose between a tailored Russian build of their firmware and withdrawal of the affected models.

The regulatory backdrop

Russian law already requires certain telecommunications equipment to use cryptographic tools certified by the FSB. The state has long maintained a certification regime under which encryption products sold in Russia must pass FSB approval. What the reported proposal adds is reach: the mandate would extend to consumer 5G smartphones as a category, regardless of where the manufacturer is based.

Russia has also pushed for years to reduce reliance on foreign technology in its networks, favoring domestic equipment and software in state procurement. A smartphone-level encryption requirement would move that policy from infrastructure into the consumer device itself.

Compliance is the hard part

The practical question is enforcement. Apple in particular does not license its operating system for third-party modification, and its devices receive software updates globally. A Russia-specific cryptographic build would sit outside that model.

Sanctions add another layer. Since 2022, Apple has suspended official sales in Russia, and Samsung has curtailed shipments, though devices continue to reach the market through parallel imports. A formal encryption mandate would apply to whatever channel those devices take.

For Russian regulators, the measure fits a pattern of asserting state control over digital infrastructure. For vendors and their customers, it raises the prospect of a market split: compliant handsets with state-approved cryptography inside, and everything else pushed to the grey trade. No implementation date for the requirement has been reported.