Apple, Google remove several VPN apps from App Store, Play Store in India, here’s why

VPN apps

Apple and Google have removed several virtual private network (VPN) apps from App Store and Play Store in India after a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to a report by TechCrunch, the ministry cited non-compliance with the country’s 2022 cybersecurity regulations as the reason for the action.

The ministry — under the regulations — had made it clear that VPN service providers should retain all important user information for at least five years. The user data includes addresses, names, IP addresses, and even transaction histories.

Certain apps — almost half a dozen — have failed to meet the government’s requirements. Some of the apps which have been removed by both Google and Apple include Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1, Hide.me, and PrivadoVPN.

Leading VPN providers like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark had previously raised objections to the regulations, citing privacy concerns. Some companies chose to withdraw their server infrastructure from India entirely.

However, despite the restrictions, some VPN providers continue to operate in India without actively promoting their services.

Apple and Google haven’t made any official comment on the removal of the VPN apps from their respective app stores.