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Indian Gov orders removal of 6+ VPN apps from app stores

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Photo by Novikov Aleksey / Shutterstock.com

More than six popular VPN apps have been removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in India at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This includes Cloudflare’s widely used app, 1.1.1.1, Hide.me and PrivadoVPN, among others.

Apple’s communication with one of the affected developers revealed that the removal was initiated due to a “demand” from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), a division under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The I4C deemed the apps violated Indian law, though specific infractions remain unspecified. As TechCrunch reports, similar compliance notices were likely sent to Google, prompting the removal of the apps from its Play Store.

Despite the sweeping impact of this enforcement, key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Apple, Google, and Cloudflare, have remained tight-lipped, declining to comment on the takedown orders.

This lack of transparency has fuelled speculation about the exact nature and timing of the government’s intervention.

This marks the first significant enforcement under India’s controversial 2022 regulatory framework for VPN providers. The regulations mandate that VPN services and cloud operators maintain extensive user data records, including names, addresses, IP addresses, and transaction details, for five years.

Photo: PixieMe / Shutterstock.com
Proton VPN and other companies have removed their servers from India in response to new laws. | Photo: PixieMe / Shutterstock.com

Non-compliance with these stringent requirements renders service providers liable to enforcement actions, including removal from app stores and potential legal consequences.

The 2022 framework faced immediate backlash from industry leaders. Companies like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, SurfShark, and ProtonVPN publicly opposed the regulations, citing privacy concerns and operational challenges.

Several providers withdrew their physical server infrastructure from India while continuing through virtualise systems outside the country.

While NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and SurfShark have adapted by ceasing direct marketing efforts in India, they continue to serve Indian customers through offshore systems. The latest takedown, however, raises questions about whether these companies might face similar pressures in the future.

The removal of these VPN apps leaves Indian users with fewer options. It also sets a precedent that may discourage developers from entering or continuing operations in the Indian market, given the heightened regulatory risks.

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Kumar Hemant

Kumar Hemant

Deputy Editor at Candid.Technology. Hemant writes at the intersection of tech and culture and has a keen interest in science, social issues and international relations. You can contact him here: kumarhemant@pm.me

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