Apple bows to Russian VPN crackdown: What it means for internet freedom

Jul 10

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Apple removed 25 VPN applications from its Russian App Store at the request of Roskomnadzor, Russia’s state communications watchdog. This move tightens internet freedoms in Russia, where the government often blocks access to Western social media and digital platforms.

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Demand for VPNs in Russia surged after the government restricted access to Western services following President Vladimir Putin’s military actions in Ukraine in 2022. VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, allow users to bypass censorship and access restricted content by routing connections through servers outside of Russia.

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The removed apps include popular services like Le VPN, Red Shield VPN, and AdGuard VPN. Representatives from these companies said they received notifications from Apple, stating the removal was due to the inclusion of content illegal in Russia. Vladislav Zdolnikov, CEO and founder of Red Shield VPN, confirmed the apps were in violation of specific Russian laws.

In the U.S., using VPNs is legal and common for enhancing security on public Wi-Fi networks, protecting privacy from surveillance, and accessing geo-restricted content. This contrasts sharply with Russia, where VPN use is heavily restricted and monitored.

The Russian government requires VPNs to connect to a database of banned websites, leading to the blockage of non-compliant VPNs. This is part of a broader strategy to control information flow and suppress dissent, especially concerning actions like the Ukraine invasion.

Apple’s action highlights the broader measures by the Russian government to control the narrative within its borders amid heightened political and military tensions. Russia has a history of monitoring and controlling internet access, including the 2016 “Yarovaya Law,” which mandates internet service providers to store users’ communications data for years and provide access to security agencies.

While Apple halted hardware sales and certain services in Russia following the Ukraine invasion, the company has kept the App Store open.

Tags: apple, Apple Store, Privacy, Russia, Russian Defense Ministry, Tass News Agency, Tech, Ukraine, Ukraine Defense Ministry

[karah rucker]

WHERE YOU GO ON THE INTERNET IS UP TO YOU – BUT IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD – YOUR ACCESS CAN BE GREATLY RESTRICTED.

THAT’S BEEN THE CASE IN RUSSIA FOLLOWING THE COUNTRIES INVASION OF UKRAINE IN 2022.

VLADIMIR PUTIN’S GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED ACCESS TO VARIOUS WESTERN SERVICES.

THAT LED TO A SURGE IN US OF ‘VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK’ APPLICATIONS – OR VPNS.

THEY’RE CRITICAL TOOLS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BYPASS INTERNET CENSORSHIP AND ACCESS RESTRICTED CONTENT BY ROUTING THEIR CONNECTION THROUGH SERVERS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF RUSSIA.

WELL NOW – THAT SEEMS TO BE OVER. THIS WEEK WE LEARNED APPLE REPORTEDLY REMOVED 25 VPNS FROM ITS RUSSIAN APP STORE AT THE REQUEST OF RUSSIA’S STATE COMMUNICATIONS WATCHDOG.

THIS RECENT MEASURE COMES AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ONGOING EFFORTS TO CONTROL VPN USAGE, WHICH INTENSIFIED BEFORE THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN MARCH.

VPN COMPANIES IMPACTED BY THE MOVE REVEALED THAT APPLE’S NOTIFICATIONS CITED THE INCLUSION OF CONTENT ILLEGAL UNDER RUSSIAN LAW.

IN THE UNITED STATES, THE USE OF VPNS IS COMPLETELY LEGAL, AND THEY ARE WIDELY USED FOR LEGITIMATE PURPOSES.

THINGS LIKE ENHANCING SECURITY ON PUBLIC WI-FI NETWORKS, PROTECTING PERSONAL PRIVACY FROM SURVEILLANCE, AND ACCESSING GEO-RESTRICTED CONTENT LIKE STREAMING SERVICES.

THIS LEGAL STANCE CONTRASTS SHARPLY WITH THE SITUATION IN RUSSIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD- WHERE THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING VPN USE IS MUCH MORE RESTRICTIVE AND CLOSELY MONITORED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

APPLE’S ACTION REFLECTS THE BROADER MEASURES TAKEN BY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL THE NARRATIVE WITHIN ITS BORDERS, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF HEIGHTENED POLITICAL AND MILITARY TENSIONS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE OF SUCH RESTRICTIONS; HISTORICALLY, RUSSIA TOOK EXTENSIVE STEPS TO MONITOR AND CONTROL INTERNET ACCESS, INCLUDING THE NOTORIOUS 2016 “YAROVAYA LAW” WHICH MANDATES INTERNET PROVIDERS TO STORE USERS’ COMMUNICATIONS DATA FOR YEARS AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO SECURITY AGENCIES.

WHILE APPLE HALTED THE SALE OF HARDWARE AND DISABLED APPLE PAY SERVICES IN RUSSIA FOLLOWING THE INVASION OF UKRAINE, THE COMPANY HAS KEPT THE APP STORE OPEN.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KARAH RUCKER.

FOR MORE OF OUR UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACT REPORTING, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT US AT SAN – DOT – COM.