Apple Removes VPN Apps From China App Store

Apple Apps Privacy

News broke on July 29th via an ExpressVPN blog post which explained that Apple had removed all major VPN apps from the China App Store. From the blog post:

We’re disappointed in this development, as it represents the most drastic measure the Chinese government has taken to block the use of VPNs to date, and we are troubled to see Apple aiding China’s censorship efforts. ExpressVPN strongly condemns these measures, which threaten free speech and civil liberties.

Below is the notice ExpressVPN received from Apple:

ExpressVPN iOS App Removal Notice

This move by Apple comes about six months after the Chinese government’s Ministry of Industry made VPNs illegal.

Sources / Relevant Material

  1. ExpressVPN "Apple removes VPN Apps from China App Store"
  2. Golden Frog "Apple Removes VyprVPN and Other Major VPN Apps From China App Store" by Sunday Yokubaitis
  3. Gizmodo "Apple Removes All VPN Apps From Its Chinese App Store" by Tom McKay
  4. VPNDada "Apple Removes VPN Apps From China App Store. What You Can Do?"
  5. WIRED "Apple Caved to China, Just Like Almost Every Other Tech Giant" by Emily Parker
  6. INQUISITR "Apple Removes VPN Apps From China Store That Helped Users Bypass Censorship And Internet Filters" by Ashley Hoffman
  7. TorrentFreak "Apple Bans VPNs From App Store in China"
  8. TechCrunch "Apple removes VPN apps from the App Store in China" by Jon Russell
  9. The Wall Street Journal "Apple Removes Apps That Allowed China Users to Get Around Filters" by Josh Chin