Apple’s complicity in Russian censorship and fantastic iPhone sales in Russia

In flagrant violation of its declarations of commitment to the principles of freedom of information, Apple obeyed the Russian censor’s order and removed independent journalistic applications and content from its Russian App Store. Reporters Without Borders article claims this, as well as the increase in iPhone sales in Russia during 2024.

On November 14, 2024, Apple removed 3 major journalistic podcasts from the Russian App Store: The Insider Live, BBC, and “Echo.” The next day, the American company also removed the “Svoboda” application of the Russian branch of the American media company Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) at the request of Roskomnadzor.

Also, earlier in October, Apple blocked the Current Time application, also created by RFE/RL and the Voice of America public channel. In August 2023, under pressure from Roskomnadzor, Apple removed the podcasts of the exiled Russian media outlets Meduza and Kholod from its platform for two days. These actions of Apple are part of the gradual removal of independent mass media from the Russian digital space and support for totalitarianism.

“Apple’s submission to Russian censorship seriously undermines citizens’ access to reliable and independent information,” Jeanne Cavelier, Head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, stated.

Shortly after the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Apple suspended its sales in Russia and removed some Kremlin propaganda media applications, such as RT and Sputnik.

But now, at the end of 2024, Apple actively cooperates with Roskomnadzor, the Russian watchdog for media and information space, removing from its App Store not only independent mass media but also the most important tools for circumventing censorship, which are VPNs. The Russian App Store has already removed about 100 VPN applications, including 25 at Roskomnadzor’s request in July 2024.

It was not possible to ban the import of Apple devices even in the corporate state sector with the help of directive lobbying in Russia. In 2024, sales of iPhones in Russia increased four times and amounted to almost 7 million rubles.

Moreover, Russia sold a staggering 1.3 million iPhones in the first 10 months of 2024. That is 39% more than in the same period last year, according to statistics from the analytical company GfK.

These consistent actions by Apple and sales statistics clearly show that economic sanctions against Russia and companies that support the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine are insufficient and not fully working. The situation clearly requires a thorough investigation and the implementation of new effective sanctions.