Reason Behind the Removal
Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications watchdog, deemed the app’s content illegal. This means the content came from an organization that Moscow had labeled as “undesirable” earlier in the year. The Svoboda app compiled local news, including projects like Siberia.Realities and North.Realities, which highlighted sensitive issues for the Kremlin.
Apple, maintaining its policy in the countries where it operates, complied. This isn’t particularly surprising: as an international company, Apple is obliged to adhere to local laws, even when these laws pose significant challenges to freedom of speech.
Media Repression Continues
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has ramped up its control over the information available to its citizens. Foreign media outlets blocked, social networks banned, and now apps removed. RFE/RL has not been exempt from these measures. Their website is already blocked in Russia, and their local office had to shut down in 2022. Such actions only further isolate Russians from uncensored information.
This is not the first time Apple has yielded to Kremlin demands. In 2024, it had already removed a hundred VPN apps, tools that are essential for bypassing censorship. Since 2022, Apple has also suspended its sales in Russia and scaled back features of its Apple Pay service. While these decisions might make sense from a business standpoint, they are poorly received by advocates of information freedom.
A Setback, But Not the End for RFE/RL
For RFE/RL, this removal is yet another blow, but not necessarily the end. The app remains available outside of Russia, and the organization continues to broadcast its content on other platforms. It remains to be seen whether Apple, like other tech giants, will eventually draw a line when faced with such pressures.
Faced with state censorship and compliance with local laws, Apple navigates murky waters in Russia. This latest removal once again shows how difficult it is for independent media to survive in this environment. One would hope that technology could serve as a bulwark, but in reality, it often seems, unfortunately, caught between two fires.
Hi, my name is Disha and I’m a passionate writer and editor at “Jason Deegan”. With a keen interest in all things tech, I strive to bring you the latest news and updates from the world of high-tech.