Apple Halts Product Sales in Russia Following Ukraine Invasion
Apple Halts Product Sales in Russia Amid Ukraine Invasion
Background
In the wake of last week’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine by Russian forces, Apple has taken a significant step to distance itself from the conflict. The tech giant has announced that it will be halting all product sales within Russia. This move comes on the heels of several other measures implemented by Apple to demonstrate its stance against the invasion.
Statement from Apple
A spokesperson for Apple provided TechCrunch with a statement detailing their position on the matter:
"We are deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all of the people who are suffering as a result of the violence. We are supporting humanitarian efforts, providing aid for the unfolding refugee crisis, and doing all we can to support our teams in the region."
The company’s statement goes on to outline several actions that have been taken in response to the invasion:
"We have taken a number of actions in response to the invasion. We have paused all product sales in Russia. Last week, we stopped all exports into our sales channel in the country. Apple Pay and other services have been limited. RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia. And we have disabled both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a safety and precautionary measure for Ukrainian citizens."
Previous Actions
Apple’s decision to halt product sales in Russia represents the most significant step taken by one of the world’s largest companies in response to the invasion. However, it is not the only action that Apple has taken recently.
Last week, Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov penned an open letter to CEO Tim Cook, calling on him and Apple to stop supplying services and products to Russia:
"I appeal to you and I am sure that you will not only hear, but also do everything possible to protect Ukraine, Europe and, finally, the entire democratic world from bloody authoritarian aggression – to stop supplying Apple services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to [the] App Store," wrote Fedorov.
Impact on Russia
The decision by Apple to halt product sales in Russia is a significant blow to the country’s economy. As one of the world’s largest companies, Apple’s products are widely used across Russia. The move will undoubtedly impact not only consumers but also businesses that rely on Apple products for their operations.
Response from Tech Leaders
Apple’s decision to distance itself from Russia follows similar moves by other tech leaders. Google has taken a similar approach, disabling certain features within its own services in Ukraine as a precautionary measure.
Implications of the Decision
The implications of Apple’s decision are far-reaching and will undoubtedly have significant consequences for both Russia and the global tech industry. As one of the world’s largest companies continues to distance itself from Russia, it is likely that other companies will follow suit.
Conclusion
Apple’s decision to halt product sales in Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine represents a significant step by the tech giant. The move demonstrates Apple’s commitment to standing against authoritarian aggression and its dedication to protecting democratic values worldwide.
Related News
- Meta execs obsessed over beating OpenAI’s GPT-4 internally, court filings reveal
- TikTok users’ attempted migration to Chinese app RedNote isn’t going too well
- ChatGPT now lets you schedule reminders and recurring tasks
- Meta to cut roughly 5% of its workforce based on performance
Subscribe for the latest industry news
Stay up-to-date with the latest tech news by subscribing to our newsletters:
- TechCrunch Daily News: Get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage every weekday and Sunday.
- TechCrunch AI: Stay ahead in the fast-moving field of artificial intelligence.
- TechCrunch Space: Explore the latest advances in aerospace every Monday.
No newsletters selected
Subscribe by submitting your email to our Terms and Privacy Notice.
