India Pulls Dozens of VPN Apps from App Stores Amid Government Intervention
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has issued removal orders for more than half a dozen popular VPN apps, including Cloudflare’s widely used 1.1.1.1, from India’s Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The move marks the first significant implementation of India’s 2022 regulatory framework governing VPN apps.
The affected apps include Hide.me and PrivadoVPN, among others. According to a document reviewed by TechCrunch and a disclosure made by Google to Lumen, Harvard University’s database that tracks government takedown requests globally, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs issued removal orders for the apps.
Background on India’s Regulatory Framework
In 2022, India introduced regulations requiring VPN providers and cloud service operators to maintain comprehensive records of their customers, including names, addresses, IP addresses, and transaction histories, for a five-year period. The stringent requirements have prompted pushback from major industry players, with leading brands like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN voicing significant reservations about the rules.
Industry Response to India’s Regulatory Framework
Several major VPN providers announced plans to withdraw their server infrastructure from India in response to the regulations. However, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark continue to maintain services for Indian customers, though they have stopped marketing their apps in the country.
Government Intervention and App Removals
The removal of popular VPN apps from app stores follows intervention from government authorities. In a communication to one of the affected developers, seen by TechCrunch, Apple cited a "demand" from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which deemed the developer’s content to contravene Indian law.
Key Players Involved
The key players involved in this enforcement action include:
- The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs
- Cloudflare
- Apple
Industry Concerns and Implications
The removal of popular VPN apps from app stores raises significant industry concerns. Many experts argue that the regulations will infringe on users’ right to online anonymity, while also creating a hostile environment for businesses operating in India.
Conclusion
The Indian government’s move to pull dozens of VPN apps from app stores marks a significant escalation in its efforts to regulate online activity within the country. The implications of this decision are far-reaching and have sparked intense debate among industry players.
