Cloudflare's VPN App Among Six Popular Apps Removed from Indian App Stores

Cloudflare’s VPN App Among Six Popular Apps Removed from Indian App Stores

In a recent crackdown on virtual private network (VPN) applications, over six VPN apps, including the popular Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, have been removed from India’s Apple App Store and Google Play Store due to government intervention. This significant action highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny in the Indian digital landscape.

Government Intervention in VPN Apps

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has taken decisive steps to enforce the removal of these VPN applications. According to a document reviewed by TechCrunch and disclosures made to Lumen, a project by Harvard University tracking global government takedown requests, several popular VPNs have been affected.

Affected VPN Applications

  • 1. Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1
  • 2. Hide.me
  • 3. PrivadoVPN

In communications with affected developers, Apple indicated that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre had issued demands to remove these applications, claiming they violated local laws.

New Regulatory Framework for VPNs

This enforcement action marks a pivotal moment in the implementation of India’s 2022 regulatory framework for VPN services. The new rules require VPN providers and cloud service operators to:

  1. Maintain extensive records of customer information, including:
    • Names
    • Addresses
    • IP addresses
    • Transaction histories
  2. Retain this data for a minimum of five years.

The stringent nature of these requirements has sparked significant backlash from major players in the VPN industry.

Industry Response

Leading VPN brands such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN have expressed serious concerns regarding the new regulations. Many have announced plans to withdraw their server infrastructure from India, although they continue to offer services to Indian customers without actively marketing their apps.

As the situation evolves, both consumers and industry stakeholders will be closely monitoring the implications of these regulatory changes on internet privacy and freedom in India.

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For more information on VPN regulations and their impact, visit this detailed guide.

Stay tuned for updates on how these developments will shape the future of VPN usage in India.

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