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Apple has removed several VPN apps from its App Store in Russia at the postulation of the government ’s communication watchdog , consort to VPN God Almighty .
Last calendar week , Russian news agency Interfaxreportedthat Apple had move out 25 VPN apps from its App Store in Russia after Roskomnadzor , a regime body that regulates the cyberspace — including what Russians can get at — demanded the removals .
The internet in Russia is heavily controlled and censored , so Russian online usersoften trust on VPNsto circumvent confinement and access blocked content .
On Monday , two VPN services — Le VPN and Red Shield VPN — told TechCrunch that they received a alphabetic character from Apple notifying them of the company ’s decision to remove their apps from the App Store .
AdGuard VPN was also removed , according to the ship’s company ’s spokesperson Ekaterina Kachalova , who severalise TechCrunch that the company receive the same letter of the alphabet from Apple on July 8 . In an email to TechCrunch , Hidemy.name ’s chief executive officer Markus Saar also confirmed receiving the notice from Apple .
“ We are indite to notify you that your lotion , per demand from Roskomnadzor will be removed from the Russia App Store because it include depicted object that is illegal in Russia , which is not in compliance with the App Review Guidelines , ” read a letter sent to Red Shield VPN by Apple , consort to a screenshot render to TechCrunch by the fellowship ’s CEO and founder Vladislav Zdolnikov .
Another source , who claimed to acknowledge some of the developer of the banned apps , provided the same varsity letter to TechCrunch .
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The letter of the alphabet essentially reason that the VPN apps in question are in violation of Russian law .
“ Apps must comply with all effectual essential in any location where you make them available ( if you ’re not sure , check with a lawyer ) , ” the letter reads . “ We know this stuff is complicated , but it is your obligation to infer and make trusted your app conform with all local laws , not just the guidelines below . ”
The letter did not provide a specific reason for the app removals , but that Roskomnadzor ’s takedown postulation was authorized by a specific clause of Russia ’s Union law .
It ’s the latest crackdown on VPNs since the governmentintroduced a forbidding on VPN advertisingahead of the country ’s election in March .
Zdolnikov said in an e-mail that Red Shield VPN , as well as other apps that were bump off , like HideMyName and Le VPN , “ are developed and keep up by hoi polloi who have an in - depth understanding of Russia ’s internet security review mechanisms . ”
“ We know how to circumvent these restrictions and are always better our services . Despite old age of endeavor to deflect our services , they remain approachable to users , ” Zdolnikov wrote . “ It grow out that Apple did this work for the Russian authorities and with unspoiled character . ”
Konstantin Votinov , the beginner of Le VPN , tell apart TechCrunch that the caller received a message from Apple on July 4 , give notice them of the remotion . In Le VPN ’s sheath , fit in to Votinov , Roskomnadzor flagged the app ’s verbal description on the App Store as “ infringing subject . ”
“ We received a notice from [ Roskomnadzor ] via Apple after our app had already been removed , give us no chance to address the care . This looks like part of a blanket crackdown affect at least 25 VPN providers in Russia , ” Votinov said .
Apple in 2022halted hardware exportation to Russia and contain some servicesto protest its invasion of Ukraine , though its app store remains heart-to-heart . Apple did not answer to request for commentary air by TechCrunch . The Russian Embassy in Washington , D.C. did not immediately respond to a postulation for gossip .
