Google and Apple have removed several virtual private network (VPN) applications from the PlayStore and App Store following the orders from the India government. This comes after the applications failed to comply with India’s 2022 VPN regulations, which require VPN providers to maintain extensive customer records for a period of five years.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered the tech giants to remove six VPN applications from their respective mobile app marketplaces. The list includes Hide.me, PrivadoVPN, and Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1. This comes after app developers failed to comply with the cybersecurity framework, which requires VPN providers, cloud services, and data center operators to store detailed customer information like names, addresses, IP addresses, and transaction histories.
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According to TechCrunch, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, which is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, requested that these applications be removed. The report also mentioned that Apple has confirmed the removal to developers citing ‘demanded by the government body’. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Apple, and Google have not released any official statements.
After the major VPN providers expressed concerns about the new regulatory framework, the directive was issued. The rules required prominent businesses such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and SurfShark to disclose the information, and they raised concerns about user privacy and the regulations’ broader implications. Many providers have moved their server infrastructure out of India, despite the fact that they continue to provide services to Indian users without actively promoting their apps.
It’s interesting to note that these regulations did not apply to corporate or enterprise VPN services. Authorities have previously warned that those who refuse to follow the new rules will be forced to leave the market.