Russia yanks Google Android OS from government issued Android tablets, replaces it with their own homegrown OS called The Russian Mobile Operating System (RoMOS).

Here’s another great example of why Russia is in complete shambles, their people are starving, and their economy sputters along in their communist ways.

News is out that the Russian government is interested in purchasing Android tablets for their members of government.  However, these Android tablets must be stripped of something before the officials can use them.

And what, you ask, is it that the Android tablets have to be stripped of?

Google.

That’s right – Russia is forcing the Android tablets that will be issued to government officials to be stripped of Google because of fears over the search giant collecting sensitive data and then turning that data over to U.S. officials.

Is it me, or is this the single most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in a very long time.  If you strip the tablets of Google, then what search engine are you going to run?  And whatever search engine you chose, are they not also running ads in search results in order to generate revenue?

Russian’s government believes they have just the right solution to the problems posed by Google’s Android OS with their own OS called the Russian Mobile Operating system (RoMOS).  The RoMOS looks and feels like Android OS but has been engineered by the Russian government.

What I believe is going on here is that Russia wants to see exactly what all of their officials are doing, saying, and viewing on their tablets.  And with a homegrown OS running on the tablets, this is the exactly what the Russian government can do.

No more spying or secretly trying get messages out of russia – the RoMOS will now be watching everything that happens from everyone using the platform.

Scary actually, if you ask me.

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Related news on this story from around the web:

According to The Wall Street Journal:

The space race is long over, but Russia is ready to challenge the world on a new technological front in the hotly-contested tablet computer market.

Researchers have revealed the first Russian prototype tablet computer called RoMos–short for Russian Mobile Operating System.

Using an operating system modeled after Google GOOG +0.50%’s Android program, the device is set to be released to the public by the end of 2012, Interfax reported. The device’s primary customer, however, will be the Ministry of Defense.

“There will be two versions–regular and military, which will be shock-proof and water-proof,” said Andrei Starikovsky, general director of the scientific production unit of the National Research Nuclear University, where the device was developed.

According to MyFOXNY, 

There will be a version for the general public and a special classified version for the military.

The military version will be shock-proof and water-proof.  The military make also features encryption and relies on a Russian designed Global Positioning System(GPS).

The Russian defense leaders wanted the domestic tablet because they were concerned that data collected and stored by Google on its Android products could end up with the U.S. military.

Production should be launched by the end of the year.  The consumer model will retail for about $460.

According to The Moscow News:

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin was presented with Russia’s first tablet computer on Thursday. The new device is to use a modified version of Google’s Android operating system. Its most distinguishing feature, however, is its high level of personal-data security, with Google’s prying eyes being kept at bay by Russian modifications to the operating system. 

The tablet is scheduled for release by the end of 2012, and its main users should be members of the Defense Ministry. The model will be called “RoMOS,” as will the operating system that runs on it. The name is a Russian-language contraction from Russian Mobile Operating System.

“The operating system has all the functionality of the Android operating system, but does not contain the ability to secretly send personal-user data to the Google headquarters,” Andrew Starikovsky, the CEO of the tablet’s design company, NRNU MiFi, told Rogozin, Itar-Tass reported.