Why VPNs Are Worth Defending
Summary
Apple's App Store in Russia is removing VPN applications, a move criticized by the EFF as a crackdown on privacy and free speech tools. This action is part of a broader trend of the Russian government increasing surveillance and control over online communication, including blocking other apps and adding tech companies to state surveillance registries.
IFF Assessment
This article describes actions by a government that restrict the use of tools designed to protect user privacy and circumvent censorship, negatively impacting defenders of digital freedom.
Defender Context
This highlights the importance of VPNs as tools for privacy and circumvention of censorship, and the challenges defenders face when authoritarian regimes target such technologies. Defenders should be aware of geopolitical factors that can impact the availability and use of essential security and privacy tools.