Apple has removed several VPN apps from its App Store in Russia at the request of the government’s communications watchdog, according to VPN makers.
Last week, Russian news agency Interfax reported that Apple had removed 25 VPN apps from its App Store in Russia after Roskomnadzor, a government body that regulates the internet — including what Russians can access — demanded the removals.
The internet in Russia is heavily controlled and censored, so Russian online users often rely on VPNs to circumvent restrictions and access blocked content.
On Monday, two VPN services — Le VPN and Red Shield VPN — told TechCrunch that they received a letter from Apple notifying them of the company’s decision to remove their apps from the App Store.
“We are writing to notify you that your application, per demand from Roskomnadzor will be removed from the Russia App Store because it includes content 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, according to a screenshot provided to TechCrunch by the company’s CEO and founder Vladislav Zdolnikov.
