Introduction
In a significant development, more than half a dozen VPN apps have been removed from India’s Apple App Store and Google Play Store following intervention from government authorities. The affected apps include Cloudflare’s widely used 1.1.1.1 app, Hide.me, and PrivadoVPN.
Background
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs issued removal orders for the apps, 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.
Affected Apps
- 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
- Hide.me
- PrivadoVPN
Reasons for Removal
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 content to contravene Indian law.
Government Regulation
The ministry, as well as Apple, Google, and Cloudflare, did not respond to requests for comment. This enforcement action marks the first significant implementation of India’s 2022 regulatory framework governing VPN apps.
Regulatory Framework
India introduced a new regulatory framework in 2022, which mandates that VPN providers and cloud service operators maintain comprehensive records of their customers, including names, addresses, IP addresses, and transaction histories, for a five-year period.
Industry Pushback
The stringent requirements prompted pushback from major industry players. Leading brands like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN voiced significant reservations about the rules, with several announcing plans to withdraw their server infrastructure from India.
Current Status
NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark continue to maintain services for Indian customers, though they have stopped marketing their apps in the country.
Industry Experts Weigh In
The move has sparked concerns among industry experts, who argue that the regulations could harm user privacy and undermine the security of online transactions. Some experts have also questioned the feasibility of implementing such stringent requirements, given the complex nature of VPN services.
Conclusion
The removal of these popular VPN apps from India’s app stores highlights the ongoing tensions between government authorities and tech companies over data collection and user privacy. As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Indian users will adapt to these changes.
Recommendations for Users
In light of this development, users are advised to carefully review their VPN options and consider alternative services that prioritize user privacy and security.
