Why did Apple pull VPNs from its app store in China?

The creators of several Virtual Private Networks have criticised Apple's decision to remove their products from its app store in China. ExpressVPN, VyprVPN, StarVPN each received notice from Apple on Saturday that their products would be removed from the app store. "If Apple views accessibility as a human right, we would hope Apple will likewise recognize internet access as a human right and would choose human rights over profits," said Golden Frog's president Sunday Yokubaitis in a blog post. Why did Apple remove the VPNs? In January, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that all developers offering VPNs must obtain a license from the government. Although Apple said it would retain the encryption keys and would not compromise users' privacy, some experts have suggested that housing data in China could create pressure for Apple to hand over data in future disputes.

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