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Why smartphones will be banned in the army and how they will be replaced. The Russian army may abandon cell phones with navigation and cameras Denis Mokrushin, blogger, military observer

Image copyright Dmitry Feoktistov/TASS Image caption Smartphones with cameras may soon be banned for the Russian military

The Russian Defense Ministry may impose restrictions on the use of smartphones for military personnel as part of the fight against information leaks, the Kommersant newspaper writes. Experts interviewed by the BBC have doubts about the effectiveness of this measure.

According to Kommersant, instead of smartphones with geolocation and a camera, military personnel may be offered to use the simplest models of push-button mobile phones.

According to the publication, Lieutenant General of the Russian General Staff Yuri Kuznetsov compiled a list mobile devices, approved for use in units of the Ministry of Defense.

The list includes 11 inexpensive push-button devices costing from 688 to 2313 rubles. All of them have the function of sending SMS, built-in alarm clock, calculator and calendar, but they do not have GPS / GLONASS navigation, and there is no built-in photo or video camera.

The Ministry of Defense hopes that such a measure will help combat information leaks - photographs and videos taken by military personnel, as well as their posts on social networks and geotags, are increasingly featured in journalistic publications and in the materials of investigative groups.

The BBC Russian service asked experts how appropriate it is to introduce such restrictions and whether anything will change if they are adopted.

Ruslan Leviev, founder of the Conflict Intelligence Team project

I think that the soldiers will continue to act as they did before: give one phone to the chief for storage, hide the second under the pillow, and update their social networks from it.

There are infinitely many such instructions, and in our memory since the beginning of the Ukrainian war, this kind of initiative has been put forward for the fourth or fifth time.

But the main thing is not instructions (according to the law, soldiers are already forbidden to publish information about military service, because they are a state secret), but control. Controlling a huge army is hard.

But in the much smaller Wagner group, such control is much easier to exercise. Therefore, we have noticed many times that as soon as a person signs a contract with the Wagner PMC, all his online activity immediately stops completely.

So, as regards the Russian servicemen, I think this will in no way affect our work.

Denis Mokrushin, blogger, military observer

It is possible to refuse [from using smartphones], but how will all this be controlled? Now, for example, military personnel are already prohibited from using mobile phones on the territory of the unit.

But nevertheless, at least officers and contractors wear them freely. Because otherwise it is difficult to keep in touch with each other. If the commander wants to assign a task to a subordinate, and he is not next to him, then he simply calls him on the phone.

Officially, this is prohibited, but in fact the ban applies only to conscripts who actually hand over their phones. But, again, they can rent one phone, and have a second one for communication. From it they will go to Vkontakte and other social networks.

BBC: And when are soldiers given telephones in units?

D.M.: For example, at a certain time in the evening, when all classes are over. It depends on the part, on the regime of its secrecy. Somewhere it can only be on weekends, also at a certain time. They are certainly allowed to make calls to their relatives, but this is necessarily regulated in each specific unit by the decision of the commander.

And if participation in hostilities is possible, then they may even demand to hand over all phones.

For example, military personnel sent to Syria do not hand over all phones, but they are forbidden to have smartphones, laptops, smart watches, fitness trackers and the like. It is clear that it can be carried illegally, but officially it is prohibited.

As it became known to Kommersant, the Russian Defense Ministry is considering the option of limiting the operation of modern cellular communications in the central office, government agencies and troops (up to subdivisions). Instead of smartphones, all military personnel - including senior officials - were asked to use the simplest models of push-button phones that do not have the function of taking photos and videos and do not track geolocation, but they can send SMS and are equipped with a built-in flashlight. According to Kommersant, the leadership of the department decided in this way to deal with information leaks, including in the media. The new measures may come into effect as early as March 1.

Two sources close to the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces told Kommersant about the innovations in the use of personal cellular communications in the armed forces, and also confirmed the interlocutor in the leadership of the department. According to one of them, over the past months the issue has been worked out jointly with the special services responsible for protecting state secrets. And recently, the head of the eighth department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (responsible for ensuring information security, is engaged in encryption), Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov compiled a list of mobile devices "permitted for use" in the central and military authorities, units of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, formations, military units and organizations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The list includes only 11 phone models from four different manufacturers (Nokia, TeXet, Alcatel and Samsung). These are the simplest push-button devices costing from 688 (for an Alcatel handset one touch 1020D) up to 2,313 rubles. (for the "clamshell" Samsung GT-E1272). They meet several main requirements: they use GSM 900/1800 standards (900/1800/1900 for some models), are equipped with a polycarbonate cover, have the function of sending SMS, built-in alarm clock, calculator, calendar, headphone jack, and some also have a flashlight or even a compartment for a second SIM card. The phone models recommended by the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces do not have GPS/GLONASS navigation and do not have a built-in photo or video camera.

Kommersant's military sources explain the innovation, which should take effect as early as March 1, as "secrecy considerations." In recent years, the agency has experienced many problems due to information leaks: for example, during the operation to annex Crimea to Russia in 2014, its participants took commemorative photographs at former facilities of the Ukrainian armed forces, which were then leaked onto the Internet and used in the West to make allegations about "Russian aggression". Photographs taken by Russian citizens in the south-east of Ukraine during the battles with the regular army served as the basis for accusations against the Russian Defense Ministry.

The last time the department attended to the fact of publication in in social networks photographs taken at the Khmeimim air base in Syria after a mortar attack on militants: the images that were distributed on the network showed serious damage to the equipment, which was filmed on a smartphone by one of the servicemen.

In addition, according to Kommersant, the military expects that the rejection of smartphones will help get rid of unauthorized access of documents (including those marked “For official use”) to the media.

It should be noted that this restrictive measure fits into the policy of working with military personnel pursued by the Ministry of Defense. So, on February 13, the newspaper Izvestia, referring to the rules for using the Internet, developed by the department at the end of 2017, reported that military personnel and civilian employees of the Russian Defense Ministry were recommended to stop using social networks. In the future, the Ministry of Defense intends to amend the laws to make them mandatory. True, according to several employees of the central office of the department, it is easy to circumvent these rules: it is enough to create an account under a fictitious name.

With phones, the situation is more complicated, says one of Kommersant's interlocutors: many employees of the department, including those related to management, are used to using multifunctional devices that allow you to install instant messengers and make calls over the Internet, and "no one is going to give up their accessories." But even this ban is easily manageable, an officer of one of the departments of the Ministry of Defense believes: “You buy a simple dialer, which you always carry with you and, if necessary, you can present to your superiors. A normal phone on silent mode remains in your pocket.

Kommersant sent a request to the Department of Information and Mass Communications with a request to comment on the department's plans.

On March 1, 2018, a law came into force prohibiting military personnel from using mobile devices and gadgets equipped with a wide range functions and options. These include, for example, the presence of a camera, Internet access, the ability to download various gaming applications. However, on certain days and hours, soldiers are allowed to use the simplest mobile models. After calling home or friends, the soldier is obliged to hand over the phone to the unit commander until the next issue. This requirement must be strictly observed.

Which mobile phone model to choose

In the army, employees can only use simple models of phones. Moreover, the time of use is strictly regulated. In case of disobedience or an attempt to hide the device and its subsequent discovery, the soldier will be reprimanded, and the gadget itself will be confiscated. In some military units, it comes to the point that the unit commanders nail the found mobile phones to the thematic wall with a nail.
When asked which phone to choose for the army, the answer is obvious - a budget model with a minimum of options. The phone should be such that it would not be a pity to lose or break it. And, of course, it must comply with the requirements established by the state - it must be only push-button and only from certain manufacturers (the most popular are Nokia, Samsung, Alcatel).
Preference for such models is given for a reason. They have the following benefits:

hold a charge for a long time - on average, the battery does not discharge from 2 weeks to a month;
do not distract a soldier from service;
in case of loss, theft or damage, they do not cause serious material damage to the owner.

When choosing a phone, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the charging connector is standard. This will allow you to charge the battery from comrades' chargers. This is relevant in case personal charging is lost or damaged.

Is it allowed to use the phone in the army

In the army, it is allowed to call on mobile phones only at specifically designated times - by day and hour. As a rule, this is a day off, most often Sunday. Employees are given telephones, which are kept by the unit commander in a special safe on all other days of the week. Calls are allocated about an hour. After this time, the soldier must return the mobile device to the safe. As for the punishment for breaking the rule, it is described above.

Should you even take your cell phone with you to the army?

When recruiting young people for the army, relatives ask themselves the question - should young men be given mobile phones at all, if they are not particularly allowed to use them, and which phone to choose for the duration of military service?
It should be said unequivocally that it is not worth giving out an expensive gadget model to a newly minted soldier. Since expensive phones often have prohibited functionality: photo / video, voice recorder and others. Such models will be confiscated and, as a result, the young man will face material and moral damage, so it is better to leave all valuable devices at home until the end of the service.
But a budget model needs to be purchased, and even two or three are better. So in case of loss, breakage, withdrawal due to disobedience, the soldier will be able to use another phone. Communication with relatives and friends in any case must be maintained, and a mobile phone is the best way for such communication. Of course, you can write letters, but they take from several days to a month, so this option cannot be called fast and convenient.

Phone ban in the army

The ban on the use of technologically advanced and advanced mobile devices in the military is not just a whim of the Department of Defense. This is a logical step. First of all, we are talking about the preservation of restricted access information and, as a result, the protection of the State. If phones are allowed in the army, and every employee has free access to a gadget with a high-quality camera, a voice recorder and fast Internet access, this is fraught with the disclosure of secret data or simply the creation of compromising content that can create the wrong impression of the Russian army among the civilian population.
The ban does not only apply to mobile phones. The following gadgets also fall under this rule:

photo/video camera
notebook
tablet
video recorder
smart watch
modem
communicator
fitness bracelet;
Dictaphone

If a soldier is found to have any of the devices listed in the list, they will be immediately seized and possibly even destroyed.

Allowed phones in the army in 2019

In order to be sure that the mobile meets the requirements of the Ministry of Defense before being sent to the army, it is recommended to study the list of allowed models in advance. They are all push-button and are equipped with only basic functions, the main of which is the ability to make a call.
Allowed phone models for the army for 2019:

Alcatel OT-1009
AlcatelOne Touch 1016D
AlcatelOne Touch 1020D
Alcatel One Touch 208

Alcatel phones allowed in the army

Nokia 105
Nokia 1280
Nokia 3310

Allowed Nokia phones

Samsung GT-E1080i
Samsung GT-E1200
Samsung GT-E1200M
Samsung GT-E1272

Samsung phones in the army

Beeline A105

Phone Beeline A105

Separately, it is worth mentioning such a device as Telephone-H2. It can be used in open negotiations, as well as brought into rooms up to the second category, inclusive. This also includes the premises of state authorities of the Russian Federation, related to the area of responsibility of the FSB of Russia.
Thanks to Phone-H2 you can:

conduct open negotiations;
write and send SMS (limited text volume);
save on mobile numbers phones of other subscribers.

But most importantly, the device provides complete protection of information and eliminates its leakage.

Thus, for 2019, phones and gadgets with a wide range of options are prohibited in the army. But push-button models from certain manufacturers are allowed for use at strictly regulated times and with subsequent mandatory surrender to the unit commander. These rules must be taken into account by all soldiers so that there is no dispute about which phone can be used in the army and which models are prohibited.

Also, many parents do not understand that phones are an indulgence on the part of the army, and not a prerequisite. After all, a soldier should be focused on performing tasks in the service and combat training, and not thinking about how to call more often and talk to a girl or parents. Therefore, a big request to all parents is treated with understanding if the soldier does not call for a week or two. There could be a thousand reasons for this. And for comparison, remember how 10-20 years ago, when there were no telephones and served for 2-3 years, everyone wrote letters that took a month, or might not reach at all. Therefore, your children are now in fairly good conditions regarding the use of mobile phones and the rapid transfer of information.

ODON, MO, Balashikha, military unit 6771 call 2-14
I took a button samsung phone GT-E1200 (ideal, cost 600 rubles, holds a charge for a day if not turned off, if turned off and used once a week, then about a month), at that time I had an iphone 4, but I did not dare to take it. In the army, everyone had telephones, but they were in the company commander's safe, and the deputy company commander for work with personnel (deputy political officer) and his clerk were in charge of accounting and issuing telephones on weekends. Each phone and charger always had a “badge” with personal number. This is a very clever mechanism for influencing a soldier, since a call to relatives was very important for me, and telephones were not given to those who somehow did not behave in good faith. And the time of extradition strongly depended on the mood of the political officer. They could give out either for the whole day or for half an hour, so everyone was silk. As for how to use the phone, no one really cared, they could take pictures, listen to music, play games, and so on. I had a statutory part, so only grandfathers had an illegal telephone and only those who went on guard regularly. In the guard, everyone, including me, spoke on the phone at the post, put it in a hat in winter and forward. If they are caught, then no one will nail it, they can declare a penalty and simply put it in a safe. It all depends on where you serve. In the Army, telephones are a whole business, it was possible to order a certain model of a telephone from the people who were engaged in this, the telephones were found, of course they were stolen from safes and someone was in share. I remember you could buy HTC One for 7k. This applied to large units, like a regiment (I served in a detachment battalion) and where there were many non-Russians, they were all very pissed off and they all had telephones.
After 7 months, I was transferred to an auto company on the Volga Siber, I drove a colonel and, of course, I had to have a phone (otherwise, how to keep in touch with the senior car and the company command). I took my “tapik” from the safe and they brought it to me in an iPhone, in fact, I charged them in the car through the cigarette lighter, and no one bothered us, since absolutely all drivers had phones. From life hacks, I advise you to take a regular file for paper and keep both the phone and the charger there, because everything is in the porridge in the safe and a lot of time passes until everyone finds their own there. I also strongly advise you to find some compact tee, because there were real cuttings for the outlet.
By the way, there was a story when the foreman broke his phone and was looking for a temporary replacement, in my naivety I gave him an iPhone and he went with it for a month, in the end he gave it with a crack protective glass and crack charging block and I couldn’t unlock it for another week because he himself forgot the password that he set, besides, he took a picture of himself and his wife there, probably for me to admire.
Squeeze: I advise you to take a cheap phone that is not a pity, as in the text, but when you “get lost” and become a senior conscription or junior command staff, you can also order a smartphone from home. As for cameras and so on, it depends on the place, maybe in closed cities or secret facilities there with this strict, but our officers, special young lieutenants, didn’t get out of iPhones at all. If there is a great need to call, the political officer always went to the meeting even when it was not supposed to, we are all people, even officers.

Forbidden connection

The fight against mobile devices in the Russian army began in the mid-2000s. In October 2005, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov approved " Instructions on the regime of secrecy in the Armed Forces", which completely prohibited the use cell phones in units and headquarters. Four years later, under public pressure, the rules for the circulation of mobile phones in the army were liberalized.

In December 2009, the troops received instructions from the Minister of Defense No. 205/2/862, lifting the ban on the use of telephones, albeit with great reservations. Conscripts could use cellular communication only in designated areas and only on weekends. The rest of the time the tubes were kept in the unit commander's safe. Officers and contractors were categorically forbidden to carry and store mobile phones in office premises where “issues containing information constituting state secrets are discussed.”

According to experts, the next round of the fight against gadgets in the army is associated with the growth of their spy capabilities. Previously, mobile devices were viewed as a potential means of unauthorized photography, audio and video recording. Through modern smartphones, a potential adversary can already receive secret information of a strategic nature, and without the knowledge of their owners.

In secret around the world

“All modern smartphones are equipped with modules for satellite navigation systems,” a source in the Defense Ministry, who wished to remain incognito, told RIA Novosti. - If someone can get access to this data, he will find out information about the deployment of units, their movements, the intensity of combat training. And on the scale of all the Armed Forces.”

Remote hacking of mobile devices is not some super-difficult task for our Western partners. In 2015, fugitive American agent Edward Snowden told the BBC that the US National Security Agency and the British Government Communications Center had developed smartphone hacking programs that could track their owners. For example, the Tracker Smurf program (“Smurf tracker”) determines the location of the device with high accuracy. A year earlier, reports appeared in the Russian media about a tacit ban on the use of the iPhone for military personnel. The Department of Defense feared that Apple might leak the coordinates of gadgets to the Pentagon.

One of the reasons for the ban on smartphones could be the desire of the leadership of the Ministry of Defense to limit the activity of soldiers in social networks, which have long turned into a channel for information leakage. The location of units and subunits can be recognized by the geotags of photos posted by fighters on their personal pages. It is known that at the height of the war in Donbass, Ukrainian “volunteers” using social networks very effectively tracked the movement of Russian troops near the border. The analysis of the personal pages of military personnel, apparently, is being carried out at a higher level. In August 2017, the Pentagon announced the creation of a social media monitoring service in Russian, English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese, as well as dialects common in China.

How are they?

At the same time, the American military department has been trying to impose discipline in the ranks of its social network users for more than 10 years. In 2007, in Iraq, American aircraft lost four AH-64 Apache helicopters in one day - the vehicles burned on the ground during a mortar attack. American fighters were found guilty of posting selfies in front of cars on Facebook the day before the attack. The militants, according to the Pentagon, found geotags with the GPS coordinates of the shooting in the metadata of the photo and delivered an accurate strike. Soon, the US Army Command issued a memo with six basic social media rules for soldiers in the war zone and their families (“6 Social Media Considerations for Deployed Soldiers and Their Families”). Similar manuals have been issued for the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

An impressive part of the instructions is devoted to services with geotagging, which, according to the authors of the manual, "can bring the enemy." The command strongly recommends that soldiers turn off GPS navigation on smartphones. Fighters are being urged to be extremely selective in their online communications as well. There are cases when the Taliban “glued” to the soldiers fighting in Afghanistan under the guise of pretty girls as friends on Facebook. “Only add people you know in real life as friends,” military instructions say. Interestingly, at the beginning of the year, manuals with similar instructions appeared in the Russian Army.