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

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

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. 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 Virtu…