Bad News! Apple Removes VPN Apps From China App Store

Apple Inc has announced that it is removing virtual private network (VPN) services from its app store in China, drawing criticism from VPN service providers.

In a statement on Sunday, an Apple spokeswoman confirmed it will remove apps that do not comply with the law from its China App Store, including services based outside the country.

China has shut down dozens of China-based providers and it has been targeting overseas services as it aims to “better regulate the behavior of China's VPN market”.

While personal VPN providers have been the subject of state-led attacks in the past, this marks the first time Apple has complied with requests to scrub overseas providers from its store.

Some VPN providers have spoken out about their dissatisfaction.

VPN provider ExpressVPN said on Saturday that it had received a notice from Apple that its software would be removed from the China App Store "because it includes content that is illegal in China".

Apple's email to UK company ExpressVPN (Photo: CGTN)

"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," ExpressVPN said in a statement.

Other major providers, including VyprVPN and StarVPN, confirmed they also received the notice on Saturday from Apple.

China users with billing addresses in other countries will still be able to access VPN apps from other branches of the App Store.

EpressVPN is available at App Store Hong Kong.

Source: CGTN, aljazeera.com

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