Apple confirms it removed apps from VK, which owns Mail.ru and Russia's largest social network VKontakte, citing UK sanctions; the apps are still on Google Play
The translated statement says “some VK applications are blocked by Apple” but that it will “continue to develop and support iOS applications.”
The Verge Mitchell Clark
Related Coverage
- Сообщение VK VK
- Apple kicks 'Russia's Facebook' VK out of the App Store The Independent · Andrew Griffin
- Apple takes down Russian social network VK's app from the App Store TechCrunch · Ivan Mehta
- Russia's Facebook-like VK removed from Apple App Store The Register · Laura Dobberstein
- Russia demands Apple explain after VK's social media platform removed from App Store The Economic Times
- Apple Removes Russian VK Apps From App Store in Response to UK Sanctions MacRumors · Tim Hardwick
- Sham referendums in Ukraine see Apple pull major Russian apps from the store 9to5Mac · Ben Lovejoy
- Apple Removes Russia's Most Popular Social Network From the App Store PCMag · Matthew Humphries
- Apple removes Russian social media giant's apps RT
- Apple vs VK: Russia Investigates As Country's Largest Social Media Is Blocked On iOS International Business Times · Marvie Basilan
- Apple pulls top Russian social media app from App Store AppleInsider · Amber Neely
- Apple pulls Russia's biggest social media network from the App Store Engadget · Steve Dent
- Apple removes Russian Facebook competitor VK from App Store The Guardian · Alex Hern
- Apple removes Russia's VK from its App Store citing UK sanctions Neowin · Usama Jawad
- Apple removes Russian social app from App Store iMore · Bryan M Wolfe
- Meta kertoi poistaneensa kiinalaisia ja venäläisiä vaikuttamisoperaatioita alustoiltaan Transistori
- Ukraine ‘sham’ referendum results point to Russia annexation Reuters
Discussion
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@alexeheath
Alex Heath
on x
Update: Apple tells me that it has removed VK's apps globally and shut off its dev accounts in response to sanctions. “These apps are being distributed by developers majority-owned or majority-controlled by one or more parties sanctioned by the UK government.”
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@timsweeneyepic
Tim Sweeney
on x
Apple's iOS app distribution monopoly makes it a pawn in geopolitical proxy wars, receiving demands from countries to censor other nations' apps in their territory, and now even globally censoring popular apps in the nation where they were built. https://www.theverge.com/...
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@alexeheath
Alex Heath
on x
In state media RT, Russian gov says it has “sent a request to Apple Inc about the reasons for deleting VK applications and developer accounts, underlining the social significance and scale of use of the services provided by the Russian company” VK apps still in Google's store
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@alexeheath
Alex Heath
on x
VK has hundreds of millions of downloads on iOS and a suite of apps for things like email and music streaming - most of if not all of which appear to no longer be in the App Store. Its CEO was sanctioned by the Biden administration earlier this year https://www.theverge.com/...
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@timsweeneyepic
Tim Sweeney
on x
@BoredElonMusk Stores are subject to laws governing where they do business. The problem with iOS specifically is that Apple blocks direct installation of software by users, therefore if the iOS App Store blocks an app, it's completely censored from the platform.
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@timsweeneyepic
Tim Sweeney
on x
IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS WAY! On Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and Linux, developers are free to distribute apps directly to users, and users are free to install apps directly from developers. Open platforms mean freedom, choice, and competition. Apple must open iOS.