Apple prevents Chinese users from accessing VPN from its app store
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The move has attracted criticism from VPN service provider, which has accused the company of bowing to pressure from Beijing cyber regulators
Apple has removed virtual private network (VPN) services from its app store in China amid criticism from variousVPN service provider.
However, users from China with billing address in other countries will have access over the VPN apps. They can approach these apps from other branches of the App Store.
The move has attracted criticism from VPN service provider, which has accused the company of bowing to pressure from Beijing cyber regulators.
VPN prevents China's 'Great Firefall', thus uplifting the restrictions imposed on its access to overseas sites. The service provider allows users to hide their IP addresses and access blocked or censored online material.
According to reports, Apple has blocked over 60 VPN apps have been banned.
China had initiated laws in January toban all VPNs that did not have state approval. It wanted to establish VPNs under the state network infrastructure.Beijing has always maintained strict control over the internet. The country has already restricted several China based providers and is now eying the overseas services to further tighten control over the information super highway.
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An Apple spokesperson confirmed theremoval of apps that do not comply with the law from its China App Store, including services based outside the country.
The apps are available in the tech giant's store outside China.
This is the first time when Apple has complied with requests to remove overseas providers from its store.
Apple manufactures most of its hardware in China and significantly the country has become a major consumer of its products.Earlier this month Apple also established its first data centre in China, in collaboration with a local company Guizhou-Cloud Big Data Industry.
ExpressVPN claimed recently that Apple had notified it that its software would be removed from the China App Store as it includes illegal content.
"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 said in a statement.
Other major providers, including VyprVPN and StarVPN, also stated the same response from Apple.
"We view access to Internet in China as a human rights issue and I would expect Apple to value human rights over profit," Sunday Yokubaitis, President of Golden Frog, which oversees VyprVPN told Reuters.
He also added that Golden Frog is planning to file an appeal to Apple over the ban.
"We are extremely disappointed that Apple has bowed to pressure," said Yokubaitis. "(It's been a) disappointing morning but we will fight on."
According to the VPN providers, thoughthe apps are not available on the app store, it can be installed manually using VPN support built into Apple's operating system.
Apple has removed applications used to evade China's net censorship. What does this mean for the already stringent web censorship in the country? WION explores (WION)