Get the latest tech news

Apple reportedly cooperating with Russia to quietly remove VPN apps from App Store

Apple is facing worthy criticism for complying with Russian government requests to remove VPN apps to adhere to local regulations–censorship.

These removals far exceed the 25 VPN apps that Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, reported as banned, raising concerns about Apple’s transparency and its role in enabling censorship in the country. Apple likely removed these VPN apps to comply with Russia’s stringent internet laws, which require tech companies to cooperate with government censorship efforts. Apple again faces a familiar dilemma: comply with authoritarian demands or start reducing features, diminishing user experience, and, of course, cutting into profits.

Get the Android app