Apple Removes More VPN Apps from Russian App Store than Previously Thought

Apple has come under fire for removing more VPN apps from the Russian App Store than previously believed. A report from GreatFire claims the iPhone maker removed around 60 VPNs between early July and September 18 – nearly three times the 25 Russia’s internet censor Roskomnadzor says it demanded.

The report is based on data from App Store Monitor showing that 98 VPN apps now can’t be found in the Russian App Store. It’s unclear if the removals were limited to iOS apps or included macOS software too.

“Apple’s silent removal of close to 60 VPN apps from the Russia App Store is not just alarming — it’s a direct threat to digital freedom and privacy,” said Benjamin Ismail, director of the App Censorship Project at GreatFire. “By unilaterally restricting access to these essential tools without transparency or due process, Apple is complicit in enabling government censorship. We demand that Apple uphold its commitment to human rights and provide a clear explanation for these actions.”

The VPN removals accelerated in response to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In March, Russia began banning VPN ads and VPNs not approved by the government, and the country’s internet watchdog began blocking VPN websites. Since then, Russia has been aggressively cracking down on VPNs, culminating in a wave of removals from the App Store earlier this month.

The VPNs that remain in the store have largely been neutered, no longer capable of effectively circumventing Russia’s internet restrictions. One app, RedShield VPN, recently said that it had removed its Russian servers “as per the demands of Roskomnadzor.”

Roskomnadzor claims that the VPN pressure is necessary to maintain a sense of order on the RuNet. The agency says it’s not looking to ban VPNs entirely, but rather to ensure that they comply with government rules. As it stands, only a handful of VPNs are still accessible in Russia, and those are widely expected to disappear soon.

But the GreatFire report argues that Apple’s actions go far beyond what’s required by Russian law. The report notes that Apple’s removals were concentrated on specific days and that Apple removed more VPNs than Roskomnadzor demanded.

“Apple’s actions not only undermine the privacy and security of millions but also set a dangerous precedent for how tech companies may collaborate with authoritarian regimes,” said Evan Greer, director of the digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future. “It’s imperative that Apple reverses this course and stands up for the rights of its users.”

The removals have set off a firestorm of criticism from digital rights groups and VPN providers, the latter of which have been forced to issue takedown notices to customers in Russia warning them of the impending bans.

RedShield VPN and Le VPN, which were both banned, removed from the App Store, and forced to deactivate their Russian servers, wrote in a joint letter to Apple that the company was “effectively helping authoritarian regimes to censor the internet.”

“It’s clear that Apple is no longer the pro-privacy, pro-freedom company it once was,” the companies said. “This is a sad day for everyone who values digital rights and the open internet.”