Security News > 2024 > July > Devs claim Apple is banning VPNs in Russia 'more effectively' than Putin

Red Shield VPN, which is focused on providing its services to Russian users, claims it received a note from Apple that says its VPN was removed from the Russian App Store.

The email, which the VPN operator shared on X, says Cupertino had to remove the app from the App Store in Russia since the software did not "Conform with all local laws." This is after the Kremlin had apparently spent years trying technological approaches to block the use of the VPN. "Apple's actions, motivated by a desire to retain revenue from the Russian market, actively support an authoritarian regime," Red Shield said in a statement.

"Over the past six years, Russian authorities have blocked thousands of Red Shield VPN nodes but have been unable to prevent Russian users from accessing them. Apple has done this job much more effectively for them."

Le VPN also says it was taken off of the Russian App Store, and shared the same email.

Roskomsvoboda believes eight VPN apps are no longer available on the Russian App Store, including popular ones such as NordVPN, Proton, and Private Internet Access.

Russian news agency Interfax is now reporting that the mobile apps of 25 VPN services have been taken down from Apple's App Store in Russia.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/07/05/kremlin_internet_censor_vpn/