Apple Removes 25 VPN Apps from Russian App Store

Apple has removed 25 VPN apps from its App Store in Russia, following a directive from the state communications regulator Roskomnadzor, according to a report by Interfax (via Reuters).

The demand for VPN services has surged in Russia since President Vladimir Putin’s military incursion into Ukraine in 2022, which led to increased censorship and restricted access to numerous Western social media platforms.

Millions of Russians have resorted to VPNs to bypass governmental censorship and access content that is otherwise banned by the authorities.

Despite Roskomnadzor’s previous efforts to block major VPN services, many VPNs remained accessible. However, the recent crackdown has intensified, with the government blacklisting around 150 VPN services and expressing intentions to completely eradicate these tools.

The ongoing tension between Russia and major tech companies, including Apple, centers around issues such as content regulation, data control, and censorship. These conflicts have been escalated by geopolitical events and the Russian government’s strict control over information flow.

Apple has had a history of compliance with Russian regulatory demands. The tech giant previously halted all product sales in Russia and limited its Apple Pay service in the country following the invasion of Ukraine.

The company has now complied with latest orders from Roskomnadzor by removing popular VPN apps such as Red Shield VPN, Le VPN, Proton VPN, and NordVPN from its platform.