Jul 05, 2024 11:38:00

Apple removes major VPN apps like Proton and Red Shield from the App Store at the request of Russian government agencies

Russia has strict internet regulations and surveillance, and it has been reported that

restrictions on social media and VPNs have been strengthened especially since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As a further measure, it has been discovered that the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technologies and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor), which is responsible for communications administration in the Russian government, has requested Apple to remove VPN apps from the App Store, and Apple has removed the apps.

❗ Apple for Android supports Red Shield VPN from the Russian App Store.
First of all, use a mini-VPN to connect to a VPN, which will provide a fast and reliable connection with your device.

We are looking forward to hearing from you soon !

— Red Shield VPN (@RedShieldVPN_ru) July 4, 2024

After installing the AppStore VPN services Proton, Nord, Red Shield and Le VPN
https://zona.media/news/2024/07/04/appstore

Apple bows to Kremlin pressure to remove leading VPNs from Russian AppStore — Novaya Gazeta Europe

https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/07/04/apple-bows-to-kremlin-pressure-to-remove-leading-vpns-from-russian-appstore-en-news

The VPN app 'Red Shield VPN' revealed that it had been removed from the Russian App Store after Apple contacted it, stating that it had received a request from Roskomnadzor to remove Red Shield VPN from the App Store because it was selling illegal content in Russia.

Red Shield VPN , one of the VPN apps removed from the App Store, revealed on its official social media that it had received a notice from Apple about the app's removal.

The message said, 'Roskomnadzor has requested that you remove the app because it contains content that is illegal in Russia.'

The app has not been removed from the App Stores in other countries and regions, so it is still available for download and use in the Japanese App Store.

'Red Shield VPN' on the App Store
https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/red-shield-vpn/id1476245357

In addition to Red Shield VPN, other apps that have been removed include Proton VPN and NordVPN .

In October 2023, a member of the ruling United Russia party stated that there were plans to block VPNs from March 2024, and the plan appears to be moving forward, albeit somewhat late.

Russia reportedly plans to block VPN services from March 2024 - GIGAZINE

The news site Mediazona points out that more than 10 VPN services, including Cloudflare WARP and Opera VPN , have been blocked in Russia over the past few years, and that Roskomnadzor is moving to block all protocols used by VPNs, especially from 2022 onwards. Experts say it will become increasingly difficult to circumvent the blocking.