Apple Removes RFE/RL News App from Russian App Store

Apple removes RFE/RL news app from Russian App Store at Kremlin’s request. In compliance with Russian censorship laws, Apple has blocked the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) news app from its Russian App Store, marking the third instance of such action following requests from the media regulator Roskomnadzor. The app remains accessible in other countries, but this move reflects a broader trend of U.S. tech companies adhering to Moscow’s strict regulations, which also led to the removal of nearly 100 VPN services and restrictions on independent media podcasts. Digital rights experts criticize Apple’s actions as a threat to digital freedom, arguing that the company is complicit in government censorship by limiting access to essential tools for bypassing state-imposed restrictions.