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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

Senators Ted Cruz and Patrick Leahy have written to Apple CEO Tim Cook to ask ten questions about Apple's recent removal of VPN apps from its Chinese app store [torrentfreak.com]:

Two US senators have written to Apple CEO Tim Cook asking why the company reportedly removed VPN apps from the company's store in China. "If these reports are true," the senators wrote, "we are concerned that Apple may be enabling the Chinese government's censorship and surveillance of the Internet."

[...] On or around July 29, Apple removed many of the most-used VPN applications from its Chinese app store. In a short email from the company, VPN providers were informed that VPN applications are considered illegal in China. "We are writing to notify you that your application will be removed from the China App Store because it includes content that is illegal in China, which is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines," Apple informed the affected VPNs [torrentfreak.com].

Now, in a letter sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook, US senators Ted Cruz and Patrick Leahy express concern at the move by Apple, noting that if reports of the software removals are true, the company could be assisting China's restrictive approach to the Internet. "VPNs allow users to access the uncensored Internet in China and other countries that restrict Internet freedom. If these reports are true, we are concerned that Apple may be enabling the Chines government's censorship and surveillance of the Internet."

The letter to Tim Cook [senate.gov].

Leahy and Cruz were cosponsors of the USA Freedom Act [wikipedia.org].

Previously: Apple Capitulates, Removes Unlicensed VPN Apps From China App Store [soylentnews.org]
Russia Bans VPNs and Tor, Effective November 1 [soylentnews.org]

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