Apple’s decision to remove numerous VPN applications from the Russian App Store marks another step in the gradual restriction of digital freedoms in Russia. Particularly striking is the involvement of a global corporation in local network controls. Affected by the latest move are programmes that allow users to bypass local internet censorship by routing access through proxy connections abroad. More than 20 such applications have recently disappeared, including popular tools for encrypted data traffic.
The deletions do not stand in isolation. They form part of a broader strategy by the Russian government to control access to independent information. VPN services are naturally in the authorities’ sights because they can circumvent state blocks. Some time ago, the Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor had already requested that Apple remove corresponding apps. In several waves, dozens of such applications were subsequently deleted, in some cases without prior warning to developers or users.
No way out
The latest development represents a further escalation, as not only have apps been removed but payment for VPN services has also been made more difficult. iPhone users in Russia recently lost the ability to manage subscriptions via Apple ID. As that is the only payment method in the Apple Store, it effectively makes use impossible.
The digital room for manoeuvre of the population in the mobile internet has therefore been reduced once again. It is another step in the systematic control of the digital space. Alongside interventions in app stores, the Russian state is pushing ahead with the development of its own platforms and blocking competing foreign services. Experts have long warned of comprehensive internet isolation combining technical blocks, legal measures and economic pressure, effectively building a Russian intranet.
The role of international technology companies in that process is ambivalent. Companies such as Apple regularly argue that they must comply with local laws in order to offer their services at all. Critics counter that such practice effectively contributes to the enforcement of authoritarian censorship. Where business interests are at stake, the companies often prove far more resilient in resisting national regulation.
Human rights organisations see the deletions as contradicting the principles many firms publicly invoke when pledging to protect freedom of expression. Comparable cases show that the pattern is not confined to Russia. In China, VPN apps have also been removed from app stores to comply with state requirements.
Commercial pragmatism
Apple has also responded to political pressure in the United States by removing applications that warned users about police checks. Such examples illustrate how global platform operators increasingly weigh economic interests against political demands, often opting for adaptation. For users, that means growing dependence on state-controlled infrastructures.
The internet, with its powerful network structure, repeatedly shows that technical restrictions can never be fully effective. Technically skilled users remain able to find alternative routes to bypass restrictions. That includes continuing to use already installed VPN apps, which may still function as long as they are not actively blocked. Another option is the use of lesser-known services or open-source solutions available online that are not yet in the authorities’ sights.
In addition, technically experienced users turn to decentralised solutions. Proxy servers, self-configured VPN connections or the Tor network still allow anonymous access to blocked content. That comes with considerable technical effort, specialised knowledge and certain risks. In some cases, payment restrictions are circumvented through alternatives such as cryptocurrencies, allowing continued access to paid services.
The development highlights a fundamental tension of the digital age. While states attempt to secure control over the digital flow of information, some users respond with ever new technical strategies. At the same time, international corporations are drawn into a pivotal role, caught between adaptation and responsibility.
The removal of VPN apps from the Russian App Store is more than a technical measure. It exemplifies the political dimension of global platform economies and raises the question of how much freedom in the digital space will remain if, above all, authoritarian states succeed in enforcing local restrictions.