Apple has again removed the VPN application from the Russian App Store

Apple has removed the Amnezia VPN app from the Russian App Store at the request of Roskomnadzor, because the app allows you to bypass internet censorship. This is another example of how the company succumbs to Russian pressure, fulfilling censorship requirements in an accelerated mode.

Apple has informed the developers of Amnezia VPN that their app will be removed from the Russian App Store, complying with Roskomnadzor’s request. Less than four hours later, the app was removed from the store. Amnezia VPN is software that allows users to create their own personal VPN to bypass internet censorship, which has made it a target for authorities. According to the Apple Censorship platform, which tracks app removals around the world, this case is the latest in a series of VPN removals from the Russian App Store this year.

• Apple officially withdrew from the Russian market in 2022, when Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. However, the company’s products remain widely used and popular in Russia. Having introduced strict VPN legislation, this year they banned services that do not block access to banned sites, including independent media. As a result of Russian pressure, Apple removed about 100 VPN applications.
• According to Roskomsvoboda, Apple once again demonstrated that it quickly fulfills the requirements of Russian censorship, giving companies no time to appeal. Apple representatives noted that the applications were removed due to content that is considered illegal in Russia. The company emphasized that all applications must comply with local legislation.