In a significant move, the Indian government has ordered the removal of over half a dozen VPN apps, including Cloudflare's widely-used 1.1.1.1, from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs issued removal orders for the apps, citing non-compliance with the country's 2022 regulatory framework governing VPN apps.

According to a document reviewed by TechCrunch and a disclosure made by Google to Lumen, Harvard University's database that tracks government takedown requests globally, the affected apps include Hide.me and PrivadoVPN. In communication to one of the affected developers, Apple cited a "demand" from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which deemed the developer content to contravene Indian law.

The removal of these VPN apps marks the first significant implementation of India's 2022 regulatory framework, which mandates that VPN providers and cloud service operators maintain comprehensive records of their customers, including names, addresses, IP addresses, and transaction histories, for a five-year period. The stringent requirements have prompted pushback from major industry players, with several leading brands voicing significant reservations about the rules.

NordVPN, ExpressVPN, SurfShark, and ProtonVPN have all expressed concerns about the rules, with some announcing plans to withdraw their server infrastructure from India. However, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and SurfShark continue to maintain services for Indian customers, albeit with reduced marketing efforts in the country.

The Indian government's move is seen as a significant blow to the VPN industry, which has long been critical of the country's regulatory framework. The removal of these popular VPN apps will likely have far-reaching implications for Indian users, who rely on these services to access blocked content and maintain online privacy.

The incident also raises questions about the Indian government's approach to online regulation and censorship. The country has been increasingly cracking down on online dissent and free speech, with several high-profile cases of internet shutdowns and website blocking in recent years.

As the VPN industry continues to grapple with the implications of India's regulatory framework, users are left wondering about the future of online privacy and security in the country. With the Indian government showing no signs of backing down, it remains to be seen how the VPN industry will adapt to these new regulations and ensure the continued protection of user data.

In the meantime, Indian users are advised to exercise caution when using VPN services, as the removal of these popular apps may leave them vulnerable to online surveillance and data breaches. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of online privacy and security, and the need for robust regulations that protect user data without compromising their fundamental rights.