Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization, stated that officials of the Islamic Republic who possess 'classified information' are not permitted to use smartphones. According to a report on Saturday, June 13, by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Mr. Jalali mentioned that a 'guideline' has been prepared regarding this matter, which is 'currently being sent for approval.' He further explained that 'usually, a backup is taken of the information that enters smartphones, which cannot be deleted, and in a way, the manufacturers have access to that information.' Jalali added that some officials 'for these classified administrative functions must use other phones.' He emphasized that 'the use of smartphones should be wise, and it is better that information that should not fall into the hands of anyone is not placed on smartphones.' ISNA had previously claimed the intention of the U.S. National Security Agency to spy on smartphones. According to this news agency's report, the NSA had plans to hack links to information in the application markets of Google and Samsung and to insert its spyware into smartphones.
Officials with Classified Information Are Not Allowed to Use Smartphones
Gholamreza Jalali announced that Iranian officials with classified information are prohibited from using smartphones due to security concerns. A guideline is being prepared for this policy, highlighting risks of data backup and unauthorized access by manufacturers. This measure reflects ongoing fears about espionage, particularly in light of recent cyberattacks.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Gholamreza Jalali announced a new guideline prohibiting Iranian officials with classified information from using smartphones due to security concerns. This measure aims to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
- Officials must use alternative phones for classified functions.
- Concerns about data backup and potential espionage by foreign entities, particularly the U.S. NSA.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of cyber threats and espionage concerns, particularly from the U.S. and its allies. This guideline reflects a broader trend of increasing security measures in response to perceived threats.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%