Recent reports indicate that several virtual private network (VPN) applications have been removed from both the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store in India. This marks a significant move against these services, occurring more than two years after the Indian government mandated that VPN providers collect and retain user information.
Government Orders Prompt VPN App Removals
A document reviewed by TechCrunch reveals that the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a directive to Google and Apple, requesting the removal of specific VPN applications from their platforms. The formal request was sent to Google on October 29 and was identified by TechCrunch in the Lumen database.
Among the notable applications removed is Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1, a service provided by a US-based content delivery network. Other VPNs taken down include Touch VPN, X-VPN, Hide.me, and PrivadoVPN.
As of the time of this report, both Google and Apple had already restricted access to these applications. However, some VPN services, including Proton VPN, Express VPN, Private Internet Access, and Mullvad, continue to be available on the respective app platforms.
This action follows the government’s April 2022 directive requiring VPN providers in India to collect and retain user information for five years. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) stated that such providers must log details including names, addresses, IP addresses, and other contact information.
In the wake of CERT-In’s order, several prominent VPN services, including ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, and Private Internet Access, declared their refusal to comply, leading to the shutdown of their physical servers within India. Despite this, these providers continue offering VPN services to users in India.
