Apple blocks Russian accounts over sanctions list matches PHOTO

Apple is restricting access to accounts belonging to Russian users whose full names match entries on US sanctions lists.

Affected users lose the ability to make purchases in the App Store, renew Apple Music and iCloud+ subscriptions, and are prompted in their profiles to submit a passport photo, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Russian Telegram channel.

Since February 6, users have reported seeing a “Verify Your Identity” notification due to matches with the sanctions list, which includes around 9,000 Russians. 

The system cross-checks full name, date of birth, and region, sometimes resulting in the blocking of ordinary individuals with common names.

Some accounts with a decade of history and iCloud archives have already been frozen. As of February 12, complaints continue to rise, while Apple has not issued any official comments.

By Jeyhun Aghazada