After banned for sanctions: Apple lets Russian Facebook back in the App Store

Apps from Russian social media giant VK, formerly Vkontakte, are back in Apple’s App Store, including popular apps VK and mail.ru.

The American group removed the UK apps from its app stores worldwide at the end of September. At the time, Apple justified the removal by saying that the apps are “largely owned or operated by third parties who are subject to sanctions imposed by the UK government”.

It was initially unclear why the apps have been back in the App Store since Monday. According to the UK Guardian, VK’s ownership has not changed in recent weeks and the sanctions remain in place. Apple told US tech portal The Verge on Wednesday that the app’s developer had provided evidence that it was not “majority owned or controlled by a sanctioned organization.” The apps have therefore been placed back in the App Store.

Criticism of “non-transparent behavior”

VK and mail.ru have a similar status in Russia to Facebook and Gmail in the West – and like Facebook, VK has also been criticized for spreading hate speech.

An activist of the “Apple Censorship” project, which closely records app takedowns by the iPhone group, has welcomed the return of the social network anyway, as these services are also used by activists and civil rights activists who are critical of the Kremlin. At the same time, Apple Censorship criticized the British Guardian for the company’s “irregular and non-transparent” behavior in managing its app store.

As recently as September last year, under pressure from the Kremlin, Apple removed an election app from the Russian opposition from the App Store. At the time, Navalny confidant Ivan Zhdanov criticized Apple and Google for removing the app from stores in Russia. The companies have violated fundamental human rights.

Apple also regularly removes apps from the Chinese App Store that the Beijing regime does not approve.

The Apple-operated App Store is the only way to install apps on iPhones and iPads. Apple makes money from app sales, in-app purchases, and subscriptions. This alleged monopoly of power has been criticized for years by app developers and network activists. US and EU antitrust authorities are currently investigating whether Apple is abusing its market power in this regard.

(oil)