Apple is pulling VPNs from the Chinese App Store. Here’s what that means.

Apple is pulling VPNs from the Chinese App Store. Here’s what that means.

7 years ago
Anonymous $V7g1X9rE3i

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2017/07/31/apple-is-pulling-vpns-from-the-chinese-app-store-heres-what-that-means/

China's restrictive Internet policies are known for blocking Web users who want to reach Google, Facebook or other banned apps. But now some of those policies are affecting Apple, one of the few remaining U.S. tech giants with a presence in the country — and the issue is raising questions about Apple's moral standing around the world.

Over the weekend, Apple began pulling apps from its Chinese App Store that may conflict with a new Chinese law aimed at shoring up the country's online censorship regime. The removed apps were all providers of virtual private networks, or VPNs. If you're unfamiliar with VPNs, the tools allow users to get around China's “Great Firewall” by making it look like they are actually surfing the Web from some other country. (VPNs have also seen growing interest from U.S. users who are cautious about their privacy.)