Russia blocks Viber in latest attempt to censor communications

December 13, 2024 at 01:17PM Russian telecom authority Roskomnadzor has blocked the Viber app for violating local laws, citing concerns over terrorism, drug sales, and illegal content. This follows a court ruling and ongoing restrictions on various foreign messaging apps. Viber had over 1 billion downloads on Android before the ban. ### Meeting Takeaways 1. … Read more

Russia forces Apple to remove dozens of VPN apps from App Store

July 8, 2024 at 01:42PM Apple has removed 25 VPN apps from the Russian App Store at the request of Roskomnadzor, Russia’s telecom watchdog. The order targets apps used to access content deemed illegal in Russia. Apple notified affected vendors and suggested contacting Roskomnadzor for more information. This move is part of the broader effort … Read more

Apple Removes VPN Apps from Russian App Store Amid Government Pressure

July 8, 2024 at 02:48AM On Jul 4, 2024, Apple removed multiple VPN apps from its App Store in Russia, complying with a request from Roskomnadzor. This affected apps from 25 VPN service providers, including NordVPN and Le VPN. These actions have been criticized for supporting censorship, leading some services to offer alternative ways to … Read more

Devs claim Apple is banning VPNs in Russia ‘more effectively’ than Putin

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 … Read more