Apple has conceded to pressure from the Russian government to restrict access to users from within the country to several apps on its app store in response to the state communications watchdog.
Some of those hit have responded in strong terms, stating that Apple’s actions “actively support an authoritarian regime.”
VPN Apps Removed from App Store
Apple removed several VPN apps from its app stores on July 4 following the request of Roskomnadzor, Russia’s state watchdog.
A major VPN provider, NordVPN, had previously shut down all its Russian servers way back in 2019.
Function of VPNs
Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, allow users to mask their internet usage by connecting to a remote server owned by the VPN provider.
It can make it difficult for actors, such as states, to monitor the information that users are accessing through the web.
Support for an Authoritarian Regime
Red Shield VPN, whose app was removed by Apple in response to the watchdog’s actions, responded in no uncertain terms regarding the company’s actions.
They said, in a statement, that “Apple’s actions, motivated by a desire to retain revenue from the Russian market, actively support an authoritarian regime.”
Apps Were Removed Without Notice
Another reason for the intense reaction of VPN providers to the response was the nature of the removals.
Apps were removed pre-emptively from the app store without any official notice from the watchdog was even given to Apple.
Restriction Based on 2006 Law
The apps were removed in accordance with a 2006 law prohibiting a number of internet services.
VPN apps were included under the “unified register” and, as a result, recently became legally restricted under the 2006 “On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection” regulations.
A Significant Step
Another VPN provider, Le VPN, released a statement expressing concern with the path Russia is taking in regard to censorship.
They said: “This event marks a significant step in Roskomnadzor’s ongoing efforts to control internet access and content within Russian territory.”
Digital Iron Curtain
Censorship of the Russian internet has become more prevalent since the beginning of the war.
The Russian government are in the process of attempting to create what has been dubbed in some places as a “Digital Iron Curtain” of internet censorship.
Spike in VPN App Downloads
2 years ago, the download of VPN apps spiked in Russia, with both Apple and Google together receiving millions of downloads in a week.
The week of February 28 saw a rapid rise in downloads, with some reports that downloads had tripled from the week before.
Other Apps Blocked Since War
VPN apps are not the only apps that have been restricted within the Russian territory, with social media apps also having faced recent bans.
Since February 2022, Facebook, Instagram and X have all become unusable behind the Digital Iron Curtain.
