MOSCOW, March 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has no plans to impose sanctions or bans on foreign high-tech products, but government customers will scrutinize overseas IT partners more thoroughly, a senior official said Wednesday.
Minister of Communications Nikolai Nikiforov noted that recent comments by US officials heighten concerns that US intelligence agencies will step up their intercepts of digital information.
However, the minister stressed that no bans on foreign IT products are in place.
"It's been plainly said that several countries will start large-scale information gathering in Russian. Many sources openly speak about it," Nikiforov said.
"In my view, this information obviously alarms Russian customers, including government customers who will pay close attention to their choice of IT partners," Nikiforov added.
"Each individual customer must make his own decision. I really don't want Russia to speak in the language of sanctions," Nikiforov stressed.
The Russian government recently switched from using US-designed iPads to Samsung tablets for cabinet sessions and meetings. These tablets, Nikiforov said, have undergone strict certification and comply with confidentiality requirements.
