In a series of actions suggesting Apple’s increasing willingness to comply with Russian censorship demands, the company has removed additional virtual private network (VPN) apps from its Russia App Store. The latest removal is Amnezia VPN, a free and open-source tool that enabled users to establish their own VPN servers—an essential feature for circumventing Russia’s censorship of over 10,000 websites banned by Roskomnadzor, the country’s internet regulator.

Early this morning, Amnezia VPN announced on its “Amnezia VPN News ” Telegram channel: 

“Friends, we have bad news. Just a couple of hours ago, we received a message from Apple that they are removing our Amnezia VPN app from the App Store at the request of Roskomnadzor. We can only say this: never buy an iPhone again, never buy Apple products again, or sooner or later you will simply lose access to the internet. Take this seriously.” 

GreatFire condemns Apple’s removal of Amnezia VPN and other tools vital to free access to information in Russia, calling Apple’s actions “a transformation into an arm of Russian censorship.” Benjamin Ismail, Campaign and Advocacy Director at GreatFire, stated: 

“Apple’s compliance with ‘local laws’ is becoming a façade for aiding censorship. This is the same behavior they exhibit in China, and it should be a global concern, not just a Russian one. By blocking VPN apps in Russia, Apple restricts the fundamental rights of app developers, many of whom reside outside Russia, from reaching their audience. The ‘walled garden’ nature of iOS means that users lose access to essential apps without alternative channels to access them.” 

Ismail added that Apple’s rationale of “complying with local laws” is insufficient: 

“Apple could push back against these censorship orders and demand better transparency from authorities. It has an obligation to respect human rights principles. If Apple continues to disregard its own commitments to user freedom, it should be held accountable under international human rights standards and, where applicable, U.S. laws.” 

On October 31, Sarkis Darbinyan, a specialist at Roskomsvoboda (RKS Global)—an organization dedicated to promoting and defending human rights and freedoms in the digital realm—shared his perspective, stating:

“Apple claims to have a strong focus on human rights and privacy in its operations. However, we do not know the exact details of the company's HRIA process, which are not publicly disclosed. Clearly, these processes should be disclosed and we urge the company to listen to human rights organizations and stop its actions which cause devastating damage to human rights in Russia, which are already facing
difficult times.” 

Data from AppleCensorship.com confirms that at least five other VPN apps were recently removed from Russia’s App Store: 

• VPN Bucks: Detected unavailable on October 2 (previously available on September 18);
• VPN Proxy: Detected unavailable on September 30 (previously available on September 27);
• Windscribe VPN: Unavailable from September 28 (previously available on September 25);
• Hotspot Shield VPN: Detected unavailable on September 26 (previously available on September 25);
• Lightning VPN: Detected unavailable on September 24 (previously available on July 22).

See all “detected changes” for the Russia App Store here. 

On September 24, GreatFire published a report titled "Unveiling the Silent Removal of VPN Apps from Russia's Apple App Store", highlighting that Apple had removed nearly 60 VPN apps over the summer, far exceeding the 25 apps Roskomnadzor had reportedly ordered removed. The ongoing purge of VPN apps from Russia’s App Store spurred a coalition of international human rights organizations and civil society representatives to issue an open letter to Apple, urging the company to end its compliance with Russian censorship orders.

The full text of the open letter and list of signatories can be found here. 

To date, Apple has not responded to the open letter. Instead, it further restricted Russian access to information by removing the Russian-language news platform “Current Time” TV (Настоящее Время), operated by Radio Free Europe, from the App Store. 

In its message on Telegram, Amnezia VPN, remarked: 

“We managed to overcome protocol blocks, we managed to bypass server blocks, but we can’t do anything against Apple. Right now, they are the largest provider of censorship in the world, willing to go to any lengths for profit. Let this be an open message not only to users in Russia but to users around the world. If censorship comes to your country, Apple will side with the forces of oppression and sell your freedom,disregarding any moral principles.” 

"When you next consider buying a smartphone, think about whether it will allow you access to the global internet. Will you control your smartphone, or will it control you?"