July 5, 2024 at 05:37PM
Apple removed at least two VPN apps from the Russian App Store following demands from Roskomnadzor, Russia’s internet regulatory agency. Red Shield VPN claimed that Apple cited non-compliance with local laws as the reason for removal, prompting accusations of support for authoritarianism. Le VPN also reported being taken down. Roskomsvoboda revealed similar requests to Google.
Based on the meeting notes, it seems that several VPNs, including Red Shield VPN and Le VPN, have been removed from the Russian App Store. The removal appears to be in response to demands from Russia’s internet regulatory agency, Roskomnadzor, which has been on a banning spree and pressuring tech companies like Apple and Google to take down VPN apps.
The VPN operators, particularly Red Shield VPN, have accused Apple of supporting the authoritarian regime in Russia by removing their apps from the App Store. They claim that Russia has been trying to block the use of VPNs for years, and Apple’s actions are seen as effectively supporting this effort.
It’s worth noting that not all VPNs were taken down recently or by Roskomnadzor itself. For example, NordVPN indicated that they unlisted their apps from Russian versions of application stores themselves back in 2023.
It appears that there is ongoing pressure from Russian authorities to restrict the distribution of VPN apps, and there are concerns about the impact on internet freedom in Russia.
We don’t have confirmation from Apple about the notifications sent to the VPN operators, and it would be important to verify this information with the company.
If you need further information or specific action items from the meeting notes, please let me know.